State & Local Tribunals

  • New York Attorney General Issues 30 More Subpoenas in Expanding Immigration Fraud Investigation(50 KB - 9/30/2009)
    On 9/29/09 NY Attorney General Cuomo issued more subpoenas in an ongoing immigration fraud investigation. Nearly 100 organizations and individuals in the New York City area are under investigation for allegations of unlawfully providing legal services to immigrants. Courtesy Jan Brown. AILA Doc. No. 09093060.
  • New York Attorney General Shuts Down Three Companies Providing Fraudulent Immigration Legal Services(56 KB - 8/24/2009)
    On 8/20/09 New York Attorney General Cuomo announced that his office had shut down three companies for providing unauthorized and fraudulent legal services to immigrant communities in New York City and Long Island. The firms are permanently barred from operating a business that provides immigration-related services and must collectively pay over $100,000 in penalties. AILA Doc. No. 09082465.
  • New York City Arrests Two Individuals for Operating a Fraudulent Immigration Consultation Business (8/7/2009)
    Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment and arrest of two individuals for illegally practicing law and operating a fraudulent immigration consultation business in Chinatown. The indictment marks the first time that New York City’s Immigration Assistance Services Law has been criminally enforced. AILA Doc. No. 09080763.
  • Texas’ AG Addresses Issue of Unauthorized Aliens Receiving In-State Tuition at State Colleges and Universities(802 KB - 7/27/2009)
    In an Opinion dated July 23, 2009, Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas, addresses the issue of whether the State of Texas may permit unauthorized aliens to receive the benefit of in-state tuition at Texas state colleges and universities. Courtesy of AILA Member Paul Parsons. AILA Doc. No. 09072764.
  • ACLU Sues Governor of Rhode Island Over Executive Order on E-Verify (9/5/2008)
    The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on 9/3/08 challenging an executive order issued by Governor Carcieri in March 2008, which requires that all vendors and contractors with the state participate in E-Verify. AILA Doc. No. 08090560.
  • State FOIA Commission Finds Release of ID Card Applicant Records Could Cause Harm (7/17/2008)
    Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission’s final decision, finding that the state’s Dept. of Homeland Security relied on imminent threats of violence to determine that disclosure of applicant information from a city municipal ID card program could result in physical harm, thus the city is exempt from mandatory disclosure. Courtesy of Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal. AILA Doc. No. 08071663.
  • Arkansas Circuit Court Enforces “Notario Publico” Act(148 KB - 7/16/2008)
    Washington County, AK Circuit Court finds defendant falsely represented that she was a representative with the training to provide immigration law services. Notario is permanently restrained and enjoined from numerous activities and notary commission is revoked. State of Arkansas ex rel. v. Nimroozi et al. (4/16/08). Courtesy of Alene Bryson. AILA Doc. No. 08071661.
  • Tennessee AG Sues to Halt UPL in Immigrant Community(29 KB - 3/10/2008)
    A press release from the Attorney General’s Office in Tennessee announced that the AG has filed a civil enforcement action against a tax professional service company and an office professional service company for unauthorized practice of law, including immigration document preparation. AILA Doc. No. 08031061.
  • ACLU Files Suit in Michigan to Challenge “Green Card Only” Driver’s License Policy (2/14/2008)
    On 2/13/08, ACLU filed a lawsuit in Michigan, challenging the denial of a driver’s license to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. (Gates et al. v. Land) AILA Doc. No. 08021463.
  • Missouri Labor Board Finds Family Unity Beneficiary Eligible for Unemployment Benefits(131 KB - 9/17/2007)
    The Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission held that because claimant’s work authorization extension was made retroactive to the date on which she properly filed her renewal request, her lawful ability to work was uninterrupted and therefore she was not disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits. AILA Doc. No. 07091760.
  • Texas Court Disciplines Attorney for Relationship with Immigration Agency(52 KB - 7/24/2007)
    Attorney who provided legal services to a non-accredited entities' clients was found to have engaged in fee-splitting, assisting in the unauthorized practice of law, and practicing under a trade name. AILA Doc. No. 07072460.
  • Judge Suspended for Denying Bail Based on Immigration Status Questions(146 KB - 6/5/2007)
    The Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission suspends a state trial judge for two weeks without pay for denying bail to criminal defendants solely because of questions about their immigration status. Courtesy of AILA member Charles R. Baesler, Jr. AILA Doc. No. 07060575.
  • Injunction Against Unauthorized Practice of Law(189 KB - 6/15/2005)
    Texas state court grants the temporary injunction request of the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee for the Supreme Court of Texas against Foley Enterprises, to prevent that entity and its principals from advising and representing "clients" in immigration matters. AILA Doc. No. 05061563.
  • Texas Attorney General Closes Down Fraudulent Immigration Consultant (7/12/2004)
    Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot annouces that an immigration consultant who presented herself as a "notario publico," falsely implying that she was a lawyer, has been shut down. The difference between notaries and attorneys is discussed.
  • MALDEF Files Suit in Virginia Challenging College Admissions Denials (9/9/2003)
    On 9/2/03, MALDEF filed a lawsuit in Virginia, challenging the denial of college enrollment to students due to perceived immigration status.
  • Florida Supreme Court Allows Plea Challenges(56 KB - 4/14/2000)
    Applying a 2-year limitation on claims that defendants were not advised of the immigration consequences of their pleas, the Florida Supreme Court holds that those who discovered the threat of deportation prior to this decision have two years to file. AILA Doc. No. 00041404.
  • Texas v. Jimenez (11/13/1997)
    The trial court granted Patricia Jimenez, also known as Ana Maria Martinez, a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus and allowed her to withdraw her guilty plea and set aside and dismissed her conviction. We affirm the trial court's order.