On Tuesday, Law Dork, with Public Justice, filed a motion to improve access to a key court case challenging ICE's new effort to detain thousands of law-abiding refugees.
Thank you Chris. It is hard to focus on the horrors inflicded upon innocent law abiding refugees. We lost everything in the Eaton/Altadena fire and it is people like you and several others that give us hope that our country will be here and lawfully functional again when we come up for air and have a home again.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping the pressure on and keeping us informed. It's exhausting just to watch from the sidelines. I hope you know how much your energy, determination, and consistent lucidity are appreciated by those of us who aren't "legal eagles." It's tremendously helpful to my soul to know you're out there fighting for our immigrant neighbors, and for all of us.
So, if the USCIS slow walks a refugees application for adjustment to LPR status, the applicant loses. That makes no sense. Slow walking applications for adjustment (or N-400 applications) is a USCIS core competency. And USCIS is part of DHS
Notes:
USCIS is the citizenship and immigration services, part of DHS
LPR is legal permanent resident (aka green card). On the road to a green card, your status gets "adjusted" several times
Bravo, Chris. Who even knew about the recent recission memo at DHS until a few days ago? It is essential that the Court not provide cover, by way of inaccessibility of its proceedings, for DHS attempts to secretly change the law so they can arrest and detain, with no legal recourse, thousands more immigrants with no criminal record. Stephen Miller's quotas be damned. Thank you for asking that these proceedings be open to us non-legal eagles who care about what's happening.
The December memo makes a big deal about needing to root out "fraud" amongst refugees who come here. I looked up what the process of getting refugee status is. It has big time serious vetting, all happening before the refugee sets foot in the US and followup after they get here. You can't GET the status without applying while outside the US.
Any idea why they are required to apply for a green card within a year? This isn't a requirement for someone who seeks asylum. (Asylum is the parallel process for people who are INSIDSE the US) It looks like the vetting of a refugee is way more rigorous than what the immigration courts are able to do when adjudicating an asylum claim.
My AI tells me that it is because the refugee program is aimed at permanent resettlement. I can see that the year must be filled with stresses. But doesn't this structure make it almost BETTER to come via a "caravan" or on your own and cross the border, immediately asking for asylum? Then you have the option, if things look better in your own country, of going home OR applying for a green card, which you can do AFTER a year of being granted asylum. Or would be if DHS wasn't taking those with asylum claims pending into custody without a bond hearing and sticking them in camps to await the much backlogged decision.
Dear LORD we need a full redo of the Immigration laws.
I support President Trump’s authority to enforce immigration law. I also support something older and more fundamental: open courts. If the administration is acting lawfully, it should welcome sunlight. Sealing key memos, rescission guidance, and operational justifications in a case of national consequence fuels suspicion and hands critics a narrative gift. The presumption in American justice is public access. Secrecy must be rare, justified, and tied to a clearly articulable national security risk—not administrative convenience. Refugee policy, detention authority, and statutory interpretation are not classified battle plans. Confidence in enforcement depends on confidence in process. Transparency strengthens legitimate executive power.
Thank you for your legal work in this important matter, and for your reporting.
Thank you Chris. It is hard to focus on the horrors inflicded upon innocent law abiding refugees. We lost everything in the Eaton/Altadena fire and it is people like you and several others that give us hope that our country will be here and lawfully functional again when we come up for air and have a home again.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping the pressure on and keeping us informed. It's exhausting just to watch from the sidelines. I hope you know how much your energy, determination, and consistent lucidity are appreciated by those of us who aren't "legal eagles." It's tremendously helpful to my soul to know you're out there fighting for our immigrant neighbors, and for all of us.
Give ‘em hell!
Straight down to the ninth ring of hell!
And beyond …
Could get you on Bondi's "antifa" list, Chris...that is, if you aren't on it already.
So, if the USCIS slow walks a refugees application for adjustment to LPR status, the applicant loses. That makes no sense. Slow walking applications for adjustment (or N-400 applications) is a USCIS core competency. And USCIS is part of DHS
Notes:
USCIS is the citizenship and immigration services, part of DHS
LPR is legal permanent resident (aka green card). On the road to a green card, your status gets "adjusted" several times
N-400 is the application for Naturalization
Bravo, Chris. Who even knew about the recent recission memo at DHS until a few days ago? It is essential that the Court not provide cover, by way of inaccessibility of its proceedings, for DHS attempts to secretly change the law so they can arrest and detain, with no legal recourse, thousands more immigrants with no criminal record. Stephen Miller's quotas be damned. Thank you for asking that these proceedings be open to us non-legal eagles who care about what's happening.
Thank you for your work, and for your clear explanations of the various laws in question. Bravo!
Nice work. Thank you
The December memo makes a big deal about needing to root out "fraud" amongst refugees who come here. I looked up what the process of getting refugee status is. It has big time serious vetting, all happening before the refugee sets foot in the US and followup after they get here. You can't GET the status without applying while outside the US.
Any idea why they are required to apply for a green card within a year? This isn't a requirement for someone who seeks asylum. (Asylum is the parallel process for people who are INSIDSE the US) It looks like the vetting of a refugee is way more rigorous than what the immigration courts are able to do when adjudicating an asylum claim.
My AI tells me that it is because the refugee program is aimed at permanent resettlement. I can see that the year must be filled with stresses. But doesn't this structure make it almost BETTER to come via a "caravan" or on your own and cross the border, immediately asking for asylum? Then you have the option, if things look better in your own country, of going home OR applying for a green card, which you can do AFTER a year of being granted asylum. Or would be if DHS wasn't taking those with asylum claims pending into custody without a bond hearing and sticking them in camps to await the much backlogged decision.
Dear LORD we need a full redo of the Immigration laws.
Thank God the surge is over. AND the AG clown show!
I support President Trump’s authority to enforce immigration law. I also support something older and more fundamental: open courts. If the administration is acting lawfully, it should welcome sunlight. Sealing key memos, rescission guidance, and operational justifications in a case of national consequence fuels suspicion and hands critics a narrative gift. The presumption in American justice is public access. Secrecy must be rare, justified, and tied to a clearly articulable national security risk—not administrative convenience. Refugee policy, detention authority, and statutory interpretation are not classified battle plans. Confidence in enforcement depends on confidence in process. Transparency strengthens legitimate executive power.
Hoping for a quick resolution.
Thank you Mr. Geidner for all of your efforts on behalf of our country.