Trigg & Gott Law Group

05/28/2026

The Trump administration is directing ICE attorneys to investigate and target immigration lawyers accused of filing “fraudulent” asylum claims.

Immigration courts already sit under the executive branch, and the government already controls enforcement, detention, and prosecution. Now it appears to be extending that pressure to the defense side too.

That creates a chilling effect on attorneys willing to take difficult asylum cases — even for people with legitimate defenses against deportation. A system where one branch controls the prosecutors, the judges, and intimidates the advocates is a dangerous concentration of power that can easily be weaponized against immigrants seeking protection.
https://thehill.com/homenews/5895886-homeland-security-targets-asylum-fraud/

05/18/2026

Judicial Recommendation Against Deportation (JRAD) was once one of the most important tools judges had to prevent unfair “double punishment” in immigration cases.

From 1917 until it was eliminated by the Immigration Act of 1990, a sentencing judge could issue a JRAD recommending that a noncitizen not be deported because of a criminal conviction. Judges used it to recognize when deportation would be excessive, unjust, or out of proportion to the offense.

JRAD acknowledged something that remains true today: criminal courts are often in the best position to evaluate a person’s character, rehabilitation, family ties, and the real circumstances of a case. It allowed judges to prevent banishment from becoming an automatic second punishment after someone had already completed their criminal sentence.

When Congress abolished JRAD in 1990, courts lost a critical safety valve. Since then, immigration consequences have become far harsher and more automatic, leaving judges with far less ability to stop deportations that they may believe are unjust.

As immigration and criminal law became increasingly intertwined, the disappearance of JRAD marked a major shift away from individualized justice and toward mandatory deportation.

05/04/2026

USCIS continues to pause final decisions on many immigration cases involving individuals from designated “high-risk” or travel ban countries. While cases may still move forward (like interviews or RFEs), approvals and denials are often on hold due to expanded security screening and vetting procedures.

There are limited exceptions, but USCIS is handling those internally, and there’s currently no formal way to request one. Some recent updates show movement in lifting holds for certain case types, including applications involving medical physicians—but delays are still expected.

The countries currently impacted include: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, the Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

04/30/2026

Just listened to the Good Hang episode with Amy Poehler and Jon Hamm and had to share — their take on the Bad Bunny halftime show was so good. They talked about how electric it was, but also how meaningful it felt to see something that reflects a broader, more real version of what being American looks like.

It wasn’t just a performance — it was culture, identity, and pride on one of the biggest stages. Loved hearing them appreciate how “American” isn’t one thing, one language, or one story. It’s layered, evolving, and way more interesting than any single definition.

Most families have an immigrant story. My dad was born in Okinawa, Japan, where my grandfather was stationed as a member of the armed forces and my grandmother was from. What's your family's immigrant story?

04/28/2026

The Photo of the Year is, Separated by ICE, by Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald.

This photograph was taken inside one of the few U.S. federal buildings where photographers were granted access — a single hallway where photographer Carol Guzy and others showed up, day after day, to document what was happening. It captures a harrowing moment: a family separated by the state. Luis was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following an immigration court hearing at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, in New York City on Aug. 26, 2025.

The executive director of World Press Photo said the image shows the inconsolable grief of children losing their father in a place built for justice. It is a stark and necessary record of family separation following the U.S. reform policies.

04/22/2026

Kentuckians — we need to pay attention.

Right now, Congress is moving forward with a reconciliation bill that would pour billions more into ICE and border enforcement — without any meaningful reforms or accountability measures. This process allows it to pass with a simple majority, bypassing the usual checks and debate.

Recent proposals have explicitly avoided including reforms like warrants for home entry, limits on use of force, or basic transparency requirements — even after serious concerns about ICE conduct nationwide.

This isn’t about being “pro” or “anti” immigration enforcement. It’s about whether we fund a powerful federal agency without safeguards to prevent abuse.

As Kentuckians, we have a voice. Call:
📞 Senator Rand Paul 270-782-8303
📞 Senator Mitch McConnell (202) 224-2541

Tell them:
➡️ Oppose any reconciliation bill that expands ICE funding without real reforms
➡️ Demand accountability, transparency, and protection of civil rights

04/21/2026

A troubling new report in the medical journal JAMA highlights that the death rate in U.S. immigration detention has reached a 22-year high, according to medical experts. These findings raise serious concerns about conditions in detention facilities, access to adequate medical care, and overall accountability.

As immigration enforcement continues to expand, it is critical to ask: Are we upholding basic standards of human dignity and care?

This moment calls for transparency, oversight, and meaningful reform to ensure that no one’s life is put at risk in detention.

A report in the medical journal JAMA said the most recent spike in deaths took place in a system with “longstanding failures” that were compounded by Trump administration policies.

04/17/2026

Ms. Rachel is right. No children belong in detention.

Wearing her signature pink headband, Rachel Accurso spoke with two children being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. She described the conversations as devastating.

04/15/2026

🚨 Received an immigration fine notice? You’re not alone—and you have options.

The website No Immigration Fines is a powerful resource created by leading legal organizations to help individuals and advocates understand and fight back against civil immigration fines.

💡 It includes:

Clear FAQs explaining your rights
Sample notices and step-by-step guidance
Model briefs to help challenge fines
Resources for both attorneys and individuals

These fines can be extremely high—sometimes up to $998 per day—but the government must prove key elements before enforcing them, and many people may have valid defenses.

👉 If you or someone you know receives a notice, don’t ignore it—learn your rights and act quickly.

🔗 Visit: noimmigrationfines.org

04/12/2026

A new report highlights an important reality about today’s immigration enforcement.

According to recent data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), **only 2% of immigration court filings in February 2026 were based on alleged criminal activity**. The remaining **98% involved civil immigration issues**—such as visa overstays or entry without inspection. ([TPR][1])

This data challenges the common narrative that immigration enforcement is focused primarily on individuals with criminal histories. In reality, the vast majority of people placed in removal proceedings are facing **non-criminal immigration violations**.

For individuals and families navigating the immigration system, this underscores how complex—and often misunderstood—the process can be. Immigration court is not just about criminal conduct; it is overwhelmingly about civil legal issues that still carry life-changing consequences.



[1]: https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2026-04-08/data-finds-only-2-of-february-immigrant-court-filings-were-based-on-alleged-criminal-activity?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Data finds only 2% of February immigrant court filings were based ..."

A majority of charging documents filed by the Department of Homeland Security involved claims of individuals violating immigration rules, not alleged criminal conduct.