CILG In the News Commenting on the Border Situation

A recent article for Daily Signal entitled, “Deportation Mill?: Salvadoran Mom, Son Get Day in Remote Immigration Court?” provides an inside look at the case of an immigrant family in detention at Artesia, NM, which some call a “deportation mill”. CILG’s managing attorney Aleksandra Michailov was interviewed for the article and quoted throughout the article based on our pro bono involvement in issues affecting the unaccompanied children crossing our SW border.

“Aleksandra Michailov, a Washington-based lawyer who belongs to the American Immigration Lawyers Association, says the back-and-forth nature of the Sanchez hearing seems fair and typical. But in an interview with The Daily Signal, Michailov, who does not represent families at Artesia, says the fact that the Sanchez case actually made court makes it “one of the few lucky cases.”

Before the case reaches court, she says, women and children at Artesia must pass a “credible fear” test given by an on-site officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. “Immigration attorneys do not feel like due process is being followed during the credible fear interview,” Michailov says. “The women and children do not get to prepare or be represented by an attorney. The approach by ICE officers is hostile. If they fail the credible fear test, they are deported.”

“If they fail the credible fear test, they are deported,” says a D.C.-based lawyer. Michailov acknowledges that after that interview, if the migrant passes and the case proceeds to court, “the system is picking up as it should be.”.

Full article at Daily Signal.

Our office remains actively engaged with the media and we are often consulted and cited (with our without attribution) by various news organizations. If our office can help with any (time-sensitive or otherwise) media inquiries, please contact us at media@nullcilawgroup.com.