Immigration Legal Experts and Advocates Discuss Implications of Khalil Case, DACA Ruling, and Busy Immigration Week

Access a virtual recording of today’s event HERE – the latest weekly installment of the America’s Voice “Beyond the Immigration Headlines” series; online version of this press release HERE 

Washington, DC — On a virtual event held today (recording available here), leading legal experts and advocates gathered to assess the details and implications of several key immigration storylines, including the Mahmoud Khalil case and the chilling larger implications for weaponizing immigration law to quash free speech; the latest 5th Circuit ruling on DACA; and the broader busy week on immigration and implications for the nation. The event was the latest in the America’s Voice series, “Beyond the Immigration Headlines.”

Juliana do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy, United We Dream discussed the latest on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, following the latest 5th circuit ruling. Nascimento said: “We do

not yet know if and how the Trump administration will follow the 5th Circuit Court’s mandate on DACA. Will Trump listen to the law and ensure first-time applicants are processed or will he turn around and attack DACA? That is the question we all should be asking. This should be a moment where immigrant youth can celebrate unapologetically and without hesitation the re-opening of initial applications for the first time in years. As a DACA recipient, I know exactly what this program means for my life and I want others to have that relief–however temporary. But no matter what comes next, we are ready. If Trumpchooses to attack DACA and DACA recipients, we are ready. We know our home is

here and we will always fight to protect our communities.”

Hillary Li, Counsel for Justice Action Center, discussed threats to DACA and humanitarian parole and stated: “The dizzying array of immigration pronouncements is enough to leave anyone feeling overwhelmed. That’s by design: The Trump administration is trying to delegitimize, criminalize, terrorize and expel as many people as it can. We

cannot let Trump’s relentlessness overwhelm us to the point of passivity. Whether it’s to protect Ukrainians fleeing Russian invasion or welcomers sponsoring Haitian loved ones, we’re ready to fight back in courts and in the court of public opinion.”

David Leopold is former President and General Counsel, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Chair of the immigration practice at UB Greensfelder LLC and America’s Voice legal advisor. Leopold assessed the larger significance of the Mahmoud Khalil case, noting: “In its zeal to deport Mahmoud Khalil the Trump administration is using a deportation provision that doesn’t require Khalil to have done anything. No crime. No immigration violation. Just his presence in the U.S. and a unilateral determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that his presence or activities potentially harm U.S. foreign policy is enough to trigger Khalil’s removal from the U.S., even though he’s a green card holder and married to a U.S. citizen. Whether or not you agree with Mr. Khalil’s opinions, the troubling question is if he can be deported based on an arcane Cold War era law, then who’s next? A green card holder protesting global warming, access to healthcare, or reproductive rights? Or simply a noncitizen who opposes a Trump policy? Nor should those of us who are US citizens take comfort in our legal privilege. If the Trump administration normalizes what it’s doing to Khalil it will succeed in chilling the speech of all Americans.”

Naureen Shah, Director of Government Affairs, Equality Division,

at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also discussed the Khalil case and implications, stating: “Ripping someone from their home, threatening their immigration status, and detaining them solely because of their political beliefs is a clear attempt by President Trump to silence dissent, to chill speech, and attack our freedoms, and if they can do this to Mr. Khalil, they can do it to any of us. No president can be allowed to send ideological litmus tests and exclude or remove people from this country because they disagree with them.”

Access a recording of today’s virtual press event HERE