Law Office of Henry Rodriguez, Esq.

08/31/2022

Hello all. I have joined the most excellent firm Passage Immigration Law. You can see how we can help you and yours in most immigration matters here:

www.passage.law

Thus, I have closed my practice and this page will be shut down in the near future (likely at the end of September). Thank you all for following my page.

Get immigration help from Portland immigration lawyers. Receive a visa, green card, or citizenship through family-based or employment-based immigration.

11/26/2019

A useful guide for how to discuss contentious topics with family during the holidays.

http://immigrationimpact.com/2019/11/26/talking-immigration-on-thanksgiving/?emci=62453dd6-a110-ea11-828b-2818784d6d68&emdi=e48719c2-a410-ea11-828b-2818784d6d68&ceid=4512139 #.Xd22ky2ZPUI

08/22/2019

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to issue a regulation that would reverse the protections of the Flores Settlement Agreement—a long-standing court settlement put in place to ensure the safety and proper care of children in immigration detention—and allow for migrant families to be held in detention for the duration of their immigration proceedings.

This regulation would authorize the indefinite detention of children and families in federal immigration detention facilities, while further weakening the basic standards of living and care afforded these vulnerable populations.

The administration’s decision to reverse the Flores Settlement Agreement will gut vital protections for migrant children and families in detention. Read our statement: http://ow.ly/LxMo30poAQB

08/15/2019

On August 9, The Department of Justice petitioned the Federal Labor Relations Authority in an effort to strip immigration judges of their right to be represented by a union. This move would unequivocally undermine the independence of the court system. Read our press release: http://ow.ly/5OtT30pmj3b

08/15/2019

The Trump Administration's continued attack on legal immigration has resulted in a new rule implementing public charge denials, placing another brick in Trump's Wall that impedes those seeking admission or adjustment in the U.S. Barring a judicial order, this rule will become effective on Oct. 15, 2019. A useful summary of this new rule can be found here:

On Monday, August 12, DHS posted for public inspection a final public charge rule that will reshape our legal immigration system and threaten the well-being ...

07/31/2019

The Trump administration continues to attack our rule of law by issuing ad hoc decisions that contradict precedent. The attacks on legal asylum continue.

AG Barr issued a decision in Matter of L-E-A- impacting how family membership could be considered in asylum proceedings. AILA Second VP Jeremy McKinney noted: “Courts, like the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, have voluminous case law directly contradicting the Attorney General’s decision....

07/25/2019

A major win for the rule of law and the rights of asylum seekers, which are protected by U.S. law.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, July 24, 2019 San Francisco, CA 一 Today, a federal judge issued a nationwide injunction preventing the Trump Administration from categorically denying asylum to people fleeing persecution who arrive at the U.S. southern border. The court found that the government’

07/23/2019

Please take the time to review this enlightening report. Here is the National Lawyers Guild's summary:

NLG members and national office staff joined long-term, on-the-ground NLG volunteers for the week-long delegation. The team met with lawyers and activists working with migrants as well as governmental and nongovernmental human rights organizations, Mexican police, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)­, local and international humanitarian aid organizations, and migrants themselves. The main findings of the report are as follows:

1. President Trump applies a racist perspective to US immigration policy and has ramped up barriers to migration to create a humanitarian crisis at the border;

2. The barriers to asylum, including the so-called “metering” system and the “Remain in Mexico” policy, misleadingly named, “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP), are illegal and exposes asylum-seekers to life-threatening conditions;

3. The governments of the United States and Mexico are neglecting their respective obligations under domestic and international law to respect the human rights of asylum-seekers;

4. Anti-immigrant sentiment in Mexico has resulted in harassment and violence towards migrants in Tijuana by Mexican authorities and residents;

5. Vulnerable populations, such as unaccompanied children and LGBTQ+ individuals, are especially at risk, and are not being afforded the rights to which they are entitled under international law; and

6. The U.S. and Mexican governments have criminalized migrants and those who are aiding them or documenting their plight, using illegal surveillance and other tactics.

Since March, the situation has worsened significantly. The asylum-seekers list in Tijuana is currently the longest it’s ever been, with 9,150 people waiting to present themselves for asylum according to Al Otro Lado, a bi-national legal services organization the NLG has been working with. MPP has been expanded along the border to the most dangerous states of Mexico. In the US, ICE raids started July 14, targeting 11 cities with large migrant populations. The NLG is working with organizations like United We Dream to connect migrants to pro bono representation.

06/26/2019

The crisis at the U.S./Mexico border is a man-made one that can be solved with humane, considerate political decision-making. One can get involved by writing to one's congressional representatives. I suggest using the following tool from the American Immigration Lawyers Association:

https://www.aila.org/advo-media/tools/advocacy-action-center #/59

A great resource for understanding the facts and issues involved can be found here:

https://www.aila.org/advo-media/issues/all/featured-issue-border-processing-and-asylum

05/16/2019

AILA has issued a policy brief in response to EOIR’s Myths vs. Fact memo that was disseminated on May 8, 2019. The brief explains that EOIR’s skewed portrayal only demonstrates the urgent need for Congress to create an independent court, separate from DOJ. You can find the brief here:

https://www.aila.org/advo-media/aila-policy-briefs/aila-policy-brief-facts-about-the-state-of-our?utm_source=AILA%20Email&utm_medium=COMM