plan of action - may 22, 2017

DOJ Attempts to Interfere 
with Immigration Rights Lawyers


Sessions and the Department of Justice are using a legal technicality to try to prevent lawyers from offering pro bono services to immigrants. The DoJ sent a cease and desist letter to the Northwest Immigration Rights Project, telling them to close down their asylum advisory services. The DoJ is a using a rule that was intended to protect immigrants from unscrupulous lawyers taking a retainer and then dropping the case; they’re attempting to extend this rule to lawyers offering free services - a scenario the rule was never intended to address. It’s clear that the DoJ does not like the opposition it is facing from the good guys. Thankfully, Judge Richard A. Jones (a Bush appointee), a District Judge in the Western District of Washington, has at least temporarily put a stop to the DoJ’s dark deeds. But they won’t give up and go away so easily.

Action:

Write and/or call and/or email the Attorney General to complain about the DoJ’s persecution of lawyers who are attempting to provide free legal advice to immigrants, especially the Northwest Immigration Rights Project lawyers.

Jeff Sessions, Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

DoJ Comment Line: 202-353-1555

Comment Form: https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice