IMMIGRATION COURT UPDATE
4/31/21
The Department of Justice has suspended non-detained immigration court hearings through May 1, 2020. Detained hearings continue as scheduled, and appeals are still being processed. Legal services are considered “essential,” and so we remain open to new and current clients.
El Departamento de Justicia ha suspendido las audiencias de los tribunales de inmigración no detenidos hasta el 1 de mayo de 2020. Las audiencias detenidas continúan según lo programado, y las apelaciones aún se están procesando. Los servicios legales se consideran “esenciales”, por lo que permanecemos abiertos a clientes nuevos y actuales.
PRO BONO ASYLUM GRANTED
9/5/19
ASYLUM GRANTED
The following is a thank you letter from a grateful client, DA from Cameroon, for whom we worked pro bono on appeal and wound up winning asylum from perhaps the toughest Immigration Judge in the country:
It is with great pleasure that I write to you this letter of appreciation and the tremendous help you provided for me while I was detained at La Palm Correctional Center. I was released on August 27th ,2019. by ICE after the judge granted me asylum on August 22nd,2019. I also want to appreciated the good job done by Pope and Associate under the responsibility of Zachary Brugman who was my attorney at BIA and after my case was remanded by to the Judge. Besides I am grateful for the fabulous work and words can’t expressed how i feel and not withstanding I am putting Florence Project for Refugee Right and Pope and Associate in my prayers. Long live Florence Project for Refugee Right and long live Pope and Associate forever in my heart. I am presently with my family.
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION SYSTEM PASSED IN OMNIBUS FEDERAL SPENDING BILL
1/29/16
The non-partisan Migration Policy Institute, a trusted source of news and information about U.S. and global immigration, posted this article that describes a number of important changes and updated to Federal Immigration Law:
With Little Debate, Congress Enacts Broad Range of Immigration Changes in Spending Bill
One of the more interesting changes is the increase in the H2B visa program, for which I’ve long advocated. An H2B visa is a temporary visa for low skilled non-agricultural labor. It allows companies to fill seasonal needs for labor that the U.S. market cannot provide. It also requires workers to return to their home countries for a specified period of time before they can come back with a new H2B visa. This can help encourage those visa holders to re-invest their U.S. earnings in their home countries, like Mexico and Central America, thereby stemming the flow of illegal immigration.
The EB5 investor visa regional center program was also renewed with the passage of the spending bill. This program provides a pipeline for foreign direct investment into U.S. businesses which, by law, must create jobs as part of the investment – it cannot be a passive investment in real estate, for example. The EB5 is underutilized, in my opinion, because it could potentially attract much more foreign investment, which helps balance global trade, creates jobs, and increases U.S. tax revenue.
You can read about the other changes in the MPI story, especially regarding the enhanced security controls on the Visa Waiver Program. The fact that these were agreed upon in bi-partisan fashion may signal a new willingness of Congress to work together to pass sensible immigration reform in the future.
Ben Wiesinger
OPEN FOR BUSINESS / ABIERTO PARA NEGOCIOS
4/18/21
As a small business with low likelihood of infection or transmission, Pope & Associates will remain open for business during the corona virus pandemic. We are taking all possible precautions, including regularly disinfecting the common areas, and employees with cold or flu symptoms are staying home. So please, if you have a new immigration case or questions about a pending case, please schedule a free consultation.
Como una pequeña empresa con baja probabilidad de infección o transmisión, Pope & Associates permanecerá abierta durante la pandemia del virus corona. Estamos tomando todas las precauciones posibles, incluyendo la desinfección periódica de las áreas comunes, y los empleados con síntomas de resfriado o gripa se quedan en casa. Por lo tanto, si tiene un nuevo caso de inmigración o tiene preguntas sobre un caso pendiente, programe una consulta gratuita.
GOVERNMENT UPDATE: The Immigration Courts and USCIS have temporarily postponed all non-detained hearings and interviews. If you had been scheduled for a hearing or interview within the next 30 days, and possibly longer, it will be rescheduled. Please remain in contact with our office and we will update you accordingly.
ACTUALIZACIÓN DEL GOBIERNO: Los Tribunales de Inmigración y el USCIS han pospuesto temporalmente todas las audiencias y entrevistas de nuestros clientes libres y no detenidos. Si había sido programado para una audiencia o entrevista dentro de los próximos 30 días, y posiblemente más, se le reprogramará. Permanezca en contacto con nuestra oficina y lo actualizaremos en consecuencia.
FOR OUR CLIENTS: as stated above, we are still taking in new cases and meeting with our current clients. In order to minimize exposure and maintain social distance, please take the following precautions:
1. Only clients and directly-involved family members should enter the office for a scheduled appointment. Children must wait outside with another family member for supervision as necessary.
2. Before entering the office, please wash your hands thoroughly.
3. Do not have physical contact with attorneys or staff (no hand shaking).
4. Do not come to an appointment if you have cold or flu symptoms or if anyone in your family has symptoms. We are happy to have an appointment by telephone.
PARA NUESTROS CLIENTES: como se indicó anteriormente, todavía estamos aceptando nuevos casos y reuniéndonos con nuestros clientes actuales. Para minimizar la exposición y mantener la distancia social, tome las siguientes precauciones:
1. Solo los clientes y los familiares directamente involucrados deben ingresar a la oficina para una cita programada. Los niños deben esperar afuera con otro miembro de la familia para la supervisión según sea necesario.
2. Antes de entrar a la oficina, lávese bien las manos.
3. No tenga contacto físico con abogados o personal (sin estrechar la mano).
4. No acuda a una cita si tiene síntomas de resfriado o gripa o si alguien en su familia tiene síntomas. Estamos felices de tener una cita por teléfono.
2015 YEAR IN REVIEW FOR POPE & ASSOCIATES
1/14/16
For Immigration Litigators, there is rarely a dull moment. With multiple court hearings every day in Phoenix, Eloy, Florence, and Tucson, we are always on the move. Add to that constant changes in immigration law and policy, and you get a constantly evolving practice.
But 2015 may go down as one of the most exciting since the firm’s inception. We had dozens of major victories and we’d like to share some of the highlights.
ASYLUM: GRANTED – PRO BONO. A young woman from Honduras was the victim of extreme domestic violence and Judge O’Leary in Tucson found her credible and granted her application. The tears of joy flowed freely as we celebrated with her and now we can bring her three children to the U.S., whom she hasn’t seen in over two years!
CANCELLATION: GRANTED – REDUCED FEE. A young man whose U.S. citizen wife and children were evicted and found themselves homeless while he was in custody was granted Cancellation of Removal 42B by Judge Arellano in Tucson. This was a very difficult case and the entire office rallied to support this struggling family with homelessness and severe medical conditions that rose to the level of exceptional and extremely unusual.
ASYLUM: GRANTED – PRO BONO. A man from Nigeria was reported to the police for being gay. While in police custody, the man was tortured in ways that are best left unsaid. The International Rescue Committee Survivor’s of Torture Program referred him to us and Judge Richardson in Phoenix granted his application.
WITHHOLDING OF REMOVAL: GRANTED. An entire family of three brothers and a sister fled from Honduras because gangs in that country started a war with their family after their uncles who were police officers dared to enforce the law. The sister was subject to an expedited removal order, but Judge Richardson in Phoenix granted her application for Withholding of Removal.
VAWA SPECIAL RULE CANCELLATION: GRANTED. A young woman from Mexico was granted Special Rule Cancellation of Removal, 42(b)(2), under the Violence Against Women Act, because she had been physically and mentally abused by her U.S. Citizen husband for more than ten years.
These are only some of the most memorable cases we won this year; a few among hundreds of positive outcomes for our clients. We were saddened by the departure of Miguel Zárate-Mancilla, who is joining the National Labor Relations Board, and by the retirement of our long-time legal assistant for the family department, Norma Gomez. We wish them the best!
While nobody could replace Miguel, we are pleased to announce the hiring of Ali Manuchehry. Ali brings 7 years of litigation experience from the Department of Justice, as well as his fluency in Farsi, both of which will add to the already diverse range of representative abilities we can offer to our clients.