About the Program
On March 20, 2019, the American Bar Association's Commission on Immigration officially launched an update to its report, "Reforming the Immigration System: Proposals to Promote Independence, Efficiency, and Professionalism in the Adjudication of Removal Cases." The report was written in collaboration with Arnold & Porter, LLP under the leadership of Lawrence Schneider. The launch event was held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
The 2019 Update Report analyzes distinct parts of the immigration enforcement and adjudication systems and chronicles changes to the system over the past nine years. The report further describes how these new circumstances bring greater urgency to the call for legislation to systematically reform our immigration system.
Recent political and legal developments have exposed the fragility of our administrative systems. Today, our nation’s immigration courts and other adjudicative systems face untenable backlogs, and increasing concerns about due process and independence. Against this backdrop, our Update Report serves as a marker for what must be done to provide a more just and equitable system. Join us as we discuss the lessons learned since the publication of the 2010 report, and an overview of the 2019 Update Report’s blueprint for improving the immigration system— to protect the most vulnerable, while also promoting fairness and due process.
The 225-page 2019 Update Report, like the 2010 Report, appears in two volumes. The first volume includes a 26-page Executive Summary and a 25-page chart that provides a summary of the 70 recommendations in the 2010 Report and the 100 recommendations in the 2019 Update Report. The second volume of about 165 pages contains full analysis and explanation of the recommendations. Both volumes of the 2019 Update Report (and the two volumes of the 2010 Report) are available on the website of the ABA Commission on Immigration for download.
Speakers
- Mary Giovagnoli, Refugee Council USA
- Karen T. Grisez, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP
- Michael Lee, former Arnold & Porter attorney
- Lawrence Schneider, Arnold & Porter LLP
- Moderator: Wendy Wayne, Commission on Immigration Chair
- Opening remarks: Bob Carlson, ABA President
Full Report
2010 Report
C-SPAN Livestream
News Coverage
- CNN: The American Bar Association says U.S. immigration courts are 'on the brink of collapse'
- The Hill: American Bar Association says US immigration courts facing an 'existential crisis'
- Daily Beast: American Bar Association: U.S. Immigration Courts Are ‘Irredeemably Dysfunctional’
- ABA Journal: Sweeping reforms are needed for 'broken' immigration system, ABA report finds
- Hot Air: Bar Association: Immigration Court System ‘On The Brink Of Collapse’
- UrduPoint News (Pakistan): US Lawyer Group Urges Congress To Scrap Immigration Courts, Create New System
PROPOSALS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, FAIRNESS, EFFICIENCY, AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE ADJUDICATION
OF REMOVAL CASES*
PROPOSALS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, FAIRNESS, EFFICIENCY, AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE ADJUDICATION
OF REMOVAL CASES*
PROPOSALS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, FAIRNESS, EFFICIENCY, AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE ADJUDICATION
OF REMOVAL CASES*