April 2018 Washington Letter

Immigration

ABA urges major restructuring of immigration courts

ABA President Hilarie Bass, testifying April 18 before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, urged a major restructuring of the nation’s immigration courts to ensure a fair and effective system for adjudicating immigration cases.

Criminal

Legislation would legislatively restore Pell Grants for inmates

Legislation introduced recently in the Senate and House would restore Pell Grant eligibility for individuals incarcerated in federal and state prisons to reduce recidivism by giving prisoners greater opportunity to successfully return to their communities.

Disability

ABA backs Marrakesh Treaty to expand access for the print disabled

The ABA expressed support this month for prompt ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled, and for enactment of implementing legislation to clarify U.S compliance with the treaty.

Immigration

Justice Department reverses decision to suspend Legal Orientation Program

ABA President Hilarie Bass applauded the Justice Department’s decision April 25 to continue funding the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) for detained immigrants while it conducts a cost-benefit analysis.

Adoption and Foster Care Reporting

The ABA Governmental Affairs Office worked with the ABA Center on Children and the Law to submit comments April 16 opposing a proposed two-year delay for implementation of a final rule issued in 2016. The final rule seeks to ensure that child welfare agencies are gathering comprehensive data to help the agencies more effectively address the needs of children and families to ensure safety, permanency and well-being.

Federal Government

Law Library of Congress

ABA President Hilarie Bass emphasized last month that the “extent and breadth of the work performed by the Law Library of Congress cannot be overstated,” and she urged Congress to approve the Law Library’s funding request of $17.129 million for fiscal year 2019. The amount, part of the total request of $672.655 million for the Library of Congress, would be a 12.4 percent increase for the Law Library.