News and updates about immigration law.
Victory Against Montana Attorney General, Lawsuit Against Anti-Immigrant Law Continues
This week, Judge Sherlock rejected the Montana Attorney General's efforts to dismiss our lawsuit, and has ruled that the Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance (MIJA) has standing to challenge LR-121 on behalf of its members, who have a reasonable fear that the law will be used to wrongly deny them benefits.
Immigrant Victims of Domestic Abuse
Final Deportation Hearings in Montana Will Now Be Conducted by Video Conferencing
We just received a call from the Immigration Court Administrator with jurisdiction over the state of Montana, and were informed that the final deportation hearings scheduled in Montana this May will now be conducted by video conferencing.
Shahid Haque Interviewed by Brian Kahn for Home Ground Radio
Home Ground Radio, hosted by Brian Kahn, is one of the most intellectually stimulating radio programs in the state of Montana. We were proud to be asked to appear on the show to discuss immigration issues, and found it to be a great experience.
Firm Proves Citizenship of Client Facing Deportation
The U.S. government often tries to deport U.S. citizens. This is a harsh and inescapable fact, and it is also a difficult one for many people to believe. However, it almost happened right here in the State of Montana. Thankfully, the Border Crossing Law Firm, P.C. stepped in to prove our client's citizenship and terminate the deportation proceedings against her.
LR-121 Lawsuit: First Hearing is Scheduled!
On December 7, 2012 the Border Crossing Law Firm filed a lawsuit in Montana’s First Judicial District Court to challenge and enjoin implementation of LR-121, an anti-immigrant law passed by voters in Montana. The first hearing is now scheduled.
Lawsuit Against LR-121
The Border Crossing Law Firm, P.C. is proud to be representing the Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance ("MIJA") in its legal challenge of LR-121. We are challenging the constitutionality of LR-121 because it violates the rights of lawful Montana residents, not just undocumented aliens.
Video: Forum at Carroll College on LR-121, Montana's Anti-Immigrant Law
On October 29, 2012, Professor Alan Hansen of Carroll College hosted a forum to discuss LR-121, the "proof of citizenship" referendum. The speakers were Shahid Haque (founder of the Border Crossing Law Firm, P.C. and President of the Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance "MIJA"), Moe Wosepka (Executive Director of the Montana Catholic Conference), and Professor Jeremy Johnson.
Governor Brian Schweitzer's Thoughts on Immigration
Governor Brian Schweitzer is well known for speaking his mind, and as he approaches the end of his term in office, he remains one of the most popular governors in the country. What many Montanans may not know is that Governor Schweitzer also has a very unique and refreshing perspective on the issue of immigration.
Interview on PoliticktickBOOM, a local Podcast.
Shahid Haque, founder of the Border Crossing Law Firm, P.C., had fun talking to Kev Hamm for this week's episode of his podcast, PoliticktickBOOM! We discussed LR-121, the state of Montana's anti-immigrant referendum, the anti-immigrant laws proposed in the Montana legislature, the suspension of the top Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the state, and much more.
Vote NO on LR-121: A Resource on Montana's 2012 Anti-Immigrant Referendum
Vote NO on LR-121: A Resource on Montana's 2012 Anti-Immigrant Referendum
Married Couple's Long Immigration Battle Comes to an End
Almost three years ago, a newly married couple came into my office, eager to begin the process to obtain a visa so they could start a life together in this country. I helped the husband, who is a U.S. citizen, submit a petition for a marriage visa for his wife. However, this process ended up being far more lengthy and complicated than anyone anticipated.
Married Couple's Long Immigration Battle Comes to an End
Almost three years ago, a newly married couple came into my office, eager to begin the process to obtain a visa so they could start a life together in this country. I helped the husband, who is a U.S. citizen, submit a petition for a marriage visa for his wife. However, this process ended up being far more lengthy and complicated than anyone anticipated.
Victory for Client Who Was Ordered Deported After Missing a Hearing
How many times have you missed a piece of mail? Sometimes mail gets accidentally delivered to your neighbors, sometimes it goes to your previous addresses, or it may just get inexplicably lost in transit. For one client who was in Immigration Court proceedings, missing a piece of mail almost cost him his life in the United States and tore apart his family.
LR-121: A Resource on Montana's 2012 Anti-Immigrant Referendum
LR-121 is a referendum that aims to deny a wide variety of state services to Montana residents who cannot prove that they are U.S. Citizens or documented immigrants. This post is designed to serve as a resource on the referendum, and why it will be so costly and damaging to the state.
A Concern About Pam Bucy's Record on Immigration Issues
In this article, I recount a professional interaction with Pam Bucy that may shed light on her interpretation of the Montana Constitution, the privacy protections provided under state law, and the role of the state in sharing information with the federal government.
Montana Teacher's Citizenship Questioned After Decades of Living in the United States
Earlier this month, I was interviewed by the Great Falls Tribune regarding the case of Anke Davis, a school teacher who emigrated to the United States in 1951. Of course, Ms. Davis was a young girl when she first came to this country. Her parents naturalized before she was 18 years old, and she always assumed she was a U.S. citizen as well. However, after applying for Medicare benefits, she was told for the first time that she was not a citizen. Naturally, this was a huge shock to her.
Senior ICE Official in Montana Advocated Racial Profiling of Muslims, Was Suspended Pending Investigation
During working hours and from his ICE e-mail account, the top ICE official in Montana, Bruce Norum, forwarded an e-mail to another ICE agent and myself, recommending it as a "good read." The e-mail plainly advocated racial profiling of Muslims, and asked for a form of loyalty test to be administered before a Muslim should be afforded basic due process.
Jon Tester Supports Amnesty and Path to Legalization...for Machine-Guns.
Jon Tester has finally come out in support of amnesty and a path to legalization. The only problem is that he isn't referring to comprehensive immigration reform -- he is using this language to argue that military veterans should be able to keep machine-guns and other fully automatic "trophy" firearms acquired on the battlefield.