An immigration attorney unfortunately is not always a client’s closest ally.

Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

In theory, a client’s closest friend, most trusted confident, and strongest advocate is his lawyer. No confidences are more strongly protected. A lawyer who violates a client’s confidences risks losing his or her license and even his or her freedom. The reality is not so lofty. I have written about it here and here and here. Too often immigration lawyers over-charge, over-promise, and under-perform. Too often they seek benefits a client is not eligible for and not even arguably eligible…

Another unnoticed big case, this time about the meaning of “particular social group” in asylum law.

Sunday, July 21st, 2013

I last wrote about a case I thought would make a bigger splash than it did relating to voluntary departure. Today’s splashless big case is a case dealing with asylum, Henriquez-Rivas v. Holder, and in particular the term, “particular social group.” It is an en banc case in the Ninth Circuit published on February 13, 2013. By way of background, a person seeking asylum in the United States must show that he or she fears persecution in his or her…