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May 2009
John Morton Confirmed as ICE Assistant Secretary
On May 12, 2009, the Senate confirmed John Morton as the Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. John Morton was previously with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where he worked on immigration enforcement and criminal prosecution.
For more information on John Morton, please see DHS's website
Juan Osuna Appointed as Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) for the Office of Immigration Litigation
Juan Osuna has been named Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) for the Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL). OIL is the office responsible for coordinating immigration matters before the federal district courts and circuit courts of appeals. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Osuna served as the chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Click here for more information on Juan Osuna and other appointments within the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division
Asylum Seekers Continue to be the Unintended Victims of the Overly Broad Definitions of Terrorist Activity in the INA
In an article entitled, "U.S. allies losing asylum bids over definition of 'terrorist'," the McClatchy Newspapers highlighted a series of cases in which asylum seekers continue to be impacted by the overly broad definition of "terrorist activity" in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The article profiles cases of asylum seekers and refugees whose cases have either been put on hold or denied due to these overly broad provisions.
The entire article is available here
Disparities Continue to Exist in Asylum Adjudications
At a symposium in Chicago last month, two professors at the Georgetown University Law Center, Andrew Schoenholtz and Philip Schrag, offered a glimpse into the findings of their research into how U.S. Courts handle asylum cases. Based on extensive data collection, the professors have found that within the system, major disparities in asylum outcomes continue to exist.
Click here to read more
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