Former immigration judges are now training lawyers to help clients with criminal records avoid deportation. This training focuses on proper documentation and legal strategies that link criminal and immigration cases.
The training program, hosted by the National Association of Women Judges, teaches lawyers about plea language, sentencing records, and how to prevent clients' offenses from being classified as serious crimes.
Instructors include former immigration judges Mimi Tsankov, Maria Lurye, and Raisa Cohen, who previously worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Their curriculum emphasizes the importance of managing criminal case records to protect clients from deportation, especially under the expedited immigration enforcement of the Trump administration.
Specific topics covered include documentation of ICE incidents and how to navigate encounters with federal authorities using the Fifth Amendment.
Legal precedents like Padilla v. Kentucky indicate that the handling of criminal cases can affect a client's deportation status.
After leaving their government roles, these former judges have established firms that offer consulting to defense lawyers, leveraging their experience to assist legal strategies against deportation.
Tsankov, Lurye, and Cohen provide various services, such as case strategy and document review, and highlight how their background can be an asset for attracting clients.
The transition of former immigration judges to legal consultants for deportation defense highlights the evolving landscape of immigration law, where past officials use their insights to advocate for clients at risk of removal from the U.S.