News

Governor Hochul Grants Clemency to 22 New Yorkers as Trump Is Poised to Implement Mass Deportation Plan, Thousands More Fear Family Separation

December 20, 2024Contact: Yasmine Farhang, [email protected] ALBANY, NY – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul granted 21 pardons and 1 commutation. We are thrilled for the New Yorkers who benefit today and for whom these clemencies mean stability, family unity, and, in many cases, critical protections in a moment of fear and urgency for so many immigrant New Yorkers. New Yorkers like … Read more »

CLE Training: Crim-Imm 101: Understanding Immigration Status for Defense Attorneys

In 2010, the Supreme Court held that the 6th Amendment requires criminal defense attorneys to advise non-citizen clients about the immigration consequences that could arise from the decision to plead guilty or go to trial in Padilla v. Kentucky. This training will provide guidance for defense attorneys on gathering immigration information from clients to work with immigration counsel to understand … Read more »

CLE Training: Immigration Detainers in NYC: The Impact on State Criminal Cases

ICE detainers are a key component of ICE’s detention-to-deportation pipeline.  An ICE detainer is an administrative request to state or local law enforcement to detain individuals who would otherwise be released, or notify ICE in advance of release, so that ICE can take the person into custody. State and local law enforcement are not required to honor detainers but many … Read more »

CLE Training: New York Direct and Late Appeals for Non-citizens

Non-citizens have contact with the criminal legal system like any other group.  A criminal appeal may be your client’s best chance to avoid deportation and remain in the United States.  The benefit to non-citizen clients overlaps with defense counsel’s ethical obligations regarding criminal appeals, and this training will discuss specific steps necessary to assist your clients. The training is virtual … Read more »

IDP and partners release briefing guide on ICE’s secretive “Citizen Academy” programs, with documents uncovered through FOIA litigation

ICE Recruits Journalists, Pols, Business Execs to Roleplay Agents at “Citizens Academy” Programs, Documents Show PR initiative trains attendees in guns and deadly tactics; cultivates vigilantism and xenophobia, rights groups say October 1, 2024, New York and Chicago – Internal documents shed light on the “Citizens Academy” programs, a controversial public relations initiative run by the Department of Homeland Security’s … Read more »

CLE Training: Representing Immigrants in New York City Specialized Court Parts

The problem-solving court parts model was developed in New York City criminal courts over twenty years ago with the goal to eschew traditional models of prosecution in favor of a results-oriented approach that focused more on the needs of individuals facing criminal charges. Today there are dozens of specialized court parts throughout New York City Criminal Courts. Representing immigrants in … Read more »

IDP Praises Relief for Immigrants, Urges Biden Administration to Minimize “Double Punishment” for Successful Implementation

June 20, 2024 IDP Praises Relief for Immigrants, Urges Biden Administration to Minimize “Double Punishment” for Successful Implementation   NEW YORK– The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) appreciates the incredible significance of President Biden’s announcement of executive action to bring relief to hundreds of thousands of people living in fear of deportation: specifically, qualifying undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and some young … Read more »

IDP Condemns Legislature’s Failure to Pass New York For All

June 10, 2024 ALBANY– The Immigrant Defense Project today condemned the New York State Legislature’s failure to pass the New York for All Act (A.5686 / S.987) during the legislative session, which would have protected immigrant communities and all New Yorkers by prohibiting local law enforcement and state agencies from conspiring with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border … Read more »

The Immigrant Defense Project Applauds the Governor’s Granting of Clemency for New Yorkers and Calls for Year-Round Clemency and Greater Transparency

June 3, 2024 On May 24 , Governor Kathy Hochul granted eleven pardons, some of those to immigrants who are deeply rooted in their communities in New York yet face immigration consequences because of their convictions. We applaud the Governor’s announcements to grant these pardons and to commute the sentences of two people incarcerated in New York.  One of the … Read more »

CLE Training: Collecting and Deciphering Criminal Documents In New York

Noncitizens often interact with other systems that impact their immigration situation. For noncitizens who have had contact with the police, determining what happened in their criminal case is a crucial step in understanding if and how it impacts their immigration matters. This course will walk you through the maze of mapping contact with the New York criminal legal system, collecting … Read more »

CLE Training: Crim-Imm 101: Understanding Immigration Status for Defense Attorneys

In 2010, the Supreme Court held that the 6th Amendment requires criminal defense attorneys to advise non-citizen clients about the immigration consequences that could arise from the decision to plead guilty or go to trial in Padilla v. Kentucky. The training will provide guidance for defense attorneys on gathering immigration information from clients to work with immigration counsel to understand … Read more »

2024 Seminar

Defending Immigrants Affected by Mass Incarceration is a CLE program that provides in-depth training on key topics in criminal-immigration law practice. Over two days, experienced immigration attorneys will provide training on new developments in case law that is key to providing high quality representation to immigrant with criminal legal system contacts. The program is designed to be useful and engaging … Read more »

Immigrant Rights Advocates Condemn Adams’s Attempts to Demonize Our Immigrant Communities

February 27, 2024 NEW YORK– The ICE Out NYC Coalition, a group of New York City immigrant rights organizations, today said Mayor Adams’s comments on rolling back the City’s sanctuary laws, which limit collusion between city agencies and federal immigration enforcement, are reckless, dangerous and unfairly vilify migrants for political gain.  At a community event in Brooklyn on Monday, the … Read more »

NY Advocates, Legislators Launch Justice Agenda to Provide Real Community Safety and Rights for All New Yorkers

January 18, 2024 ALBANY, NY –  New York State legislators joined over 120 human rights and social justice advocates, directly impacted community members, legal service providers, and faith leaders across New York State to launch the Justice Roadmap, a legislative agenda designed to address the deeply interconnected harms caused by the criminal legal and immigration systems and build community safety … Read more »

Immigrant Defense Project Again Calls on Biden to Extend Marijuana Pardon Protections to Immigrants

December 22, 2023 The Immigrant Defense Project has issued the following statement from Benita Jain, Supervising Attorney, in response to President Biden’s December 22, 2023 proclamation granting pardons to people convicted of simple possession of marijuana: President Biden’s announcement today to pardon federal and D.C.-based marijuana possession offenses is a disappointing partial step towards the marijuana justice that the communities … Read more »

CLE Training: Immigration Detainers in NYC: The Impact on State Criminal Cases

Immigration detainers are a key component of ICE’s detention-to-deportation pipeline.  An immigration detainer is an administrative request to state or local law enforcement to detain individuals who would otherwise be released, or notify ICE in advance of release, so that ICE can arrest the person. State and local law enforcement are not required to honor detainers but many do. ICE … Read more »