RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER THREATENS IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (March 26th, 2025) — The President issued a memo on March 22nd titled “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court.” The memo alleges, amongst other things, that the immigration bar and “powerful Big Law pro bono practices” are riddled with fraud and “replete with examples of unscrupulous behavior by attorneys and law firms.”
AIJ’s Immigration Justice Project is the only non-profit program in Alaska that provides immigration legal services. Our work saves lives and makes our community safer. AIJ complies with the highest ethical standards established by the Alaska Bar Association and complies with the stringent requirements established by Congress to represent our clients, including survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking who are seeking safety and justice. Since opening in 2005, AIJ has been very successful in representing survivors because of our compliance with these standards. As a member of the immigration bar, we condemn these baseless claims.
The memorandum makes the unfounded allegation that “the immigration bar, and powerful Big Law pro bono practices, frequently coach clients to conceal their past or lie about their circumstances, all in an attempt to circumvent immigration policies enacted to protect our national security…” Later in the memorandum, the president directs “the Attorney General to take all appropriate action to refer for disciplinary action any attorney whose conduct in Federal court or before any component of the Federal Government appears to violate professional conduct rules, including rules governing meritorious claims and contentions, and particularly in cases that implicate national security, homeland security, public safety, or election integrity.”
The order can be used by the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to intimidate and restrict immigration attorneys’ ability to work with refugees and asylum seekers fleeing persecution or torture in their country of origin.
The administration’s decision to target pro bono immigration firms is unprecedented and dangerous. Ramifications will be felt far beyond the immigrant community; pro bono immigration law firms work to stabilize immigration status, which leads to immigrants paying taxes, contributing to the economy, and reducing crime as victims are protected and able to report their abusers to law enforcement. Lawyers must be able to defend their clients without fear of retribution; otherwise, the legal system can be abused to target the most vulnerable populations.
It is critical that AIJ is able to continue to offer our services to exploited people. Our pro bono work is only possible with federal grants and private donations. Please donate today to support our work protecting victims, reducing crime, and serving our community.