The law can be used for good or bad. And when it’s used for good, I have no greater feeling as a lawyer. Today was one of those good days. The District of Columbia joined 15 states to sue the federal government, Donald Trump as President, Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Trump’s decision on ending DACA. Litigation is my life and one that I’m proud of. And I am so proud today that lawyers in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia took a stand for DACA in fighting for the lives of those young undocumented “Americans” who came here as children before the age of 16 and know no other country except the U.S. The lawsuit filed in federal court in New York alleges that Donald Trump’s decision to end DACA is motivated by ill will; will cause a loss of revenue for these states, lower employment, split up families and … [Read more...] about Lawyers Sue Heartless Trump on DACA
Hispanics
DACA and The Devil Living Inside the White House
Donald Trump proclaimed Sunday, September 3, 2017 as National Day of Prayer. And on that same day, he announced that he intends to end DACA with a 6-month delay period of time. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It is the executive order that President Obama signed in June, 2012 which protected and allowed undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to be granted work permits. It does not cover all young undocumented immigrants brought here, as it has a cut-off age and other requirements. 800,000 undocumented young persons are believed to be covered under DACA. Trump had earlier stated that he had a “great heart” in terms of DACA and those young persons covered under it. On Sunday’s National Day of Prayer, he showed where his real great heart lay. He announced ending DACA on the same day he asked people to pray. Over 91% of individuals under DACA are employed or attending school. They are mostly law-abiding individuals. They are our … [Read more...] about DACA and The Devil Living Inside the White House
The Trump Era and Justice for People of Color
President Elect Donald Trump has nominated Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as his pick for Attorney General of the U.S. Sessions is a lightning bolt for anything related to civil rights and justice for people of color. Much of the progress seen in the Eric Holder era and now Loretta Lynch era may likely soon be erased with a much darker side taking its place. The prior history of Sessions speaking out in support of the Klu Klux Klan (“KKK”) in the past years, is troubling for civil rights advancement. Some of the areas at risk are police consent decrees, federal police lawsuits for excessive force and death of unarmed individuals, immigration legislation deferring deportation of “Dreamers”, reduction of mandatory minimums, Voting Rights legislation, federal lawsuits opposing voter disenfranchisement and the Civil rights Division, itself. Sessions favors increasing the prison population. Former Attorney General Eric Holder favored decreasing the prison population by reducing … [Read more...] about The Trump Era and Justice for People of Color
No Trump, No Way, No How
The presidential elections of 2008 and 2012 now seem like a century ago in terms of where the country is now headed. In 2008 and 2012, President Obama campaigned on hope and change which resonated with voters. In 2016, we see an extreme form of racism, xenophobia and misogynist campaigning by Donald Trump appealing to many voters. And with a little of over a month until the election, there appears to be a growing trend leaning now towards Donald Trump. In November, we could be calling Donald Trump our next president. In the eight years of President Obama’s two terms, I came to realize that racism is alive and well in the U.S. In fact, it never really went anywhere. While many persons speak of patriotism towards the U.S. and against protests during the playing of the national anthem, there was often little patriotism shown towards our Commander in Chief with many persons, including Republican members of Congress and the GOP Senate disrespecting President Obama throughout … [Read more...] about No Trump, No Way, No How