Let’s Find a New Response to an Ongoing Problem

I haven’t written in a very long time. 
But today I need to.
This morning a local grassroots organization held a peaceful protest in front of the ICE office in Minnesota protesting the need for immigration reform and to try to stop the raids on workplaces and the forced separation of families.  Apparently similar protests were held around the [...]

Mishmash of Good News and Interesting Stuff

I have had a very busy week in my practice but wanted to write a little something before I go home because all of it has been worth sharing.
Worth noting:
1.  The Southern Poverty Law Center, the well known civil rights organization which has tracked hate crimes and hate groups and which has successfully prevailed in lawsuits against [...]

Life Becomes Drama in Minneapolis

I have always loved the theater. 
Last week the theater became real life for me.  The renowned Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis put on a legal training course, referred to as CLEs, for local lawyers called Merchants of Faith:  Bias in the Litigation of Religous Belief.  It is scheduled for tomorrow as well and then available by [...]

Vietnam and the US — Friendly Again

After ostensibly ten years of negotiations with Vietnam, the US signed an agreement on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 with Vietnam for the US to return all Vietnamese nationals who entered the US after July 12, 2995 and who have been ordered removed.  This agreement goes into effect in sixty days and lasts for five years, although [...]

Short-sightedness from Governor in Minnesota

Yesterday Governor Tim Pawlenty unveiled his plan, which he seems to do every year about this time, to crackdown on illegal immigration.  A local TV station reported him as saying ” ‘We can’t have a system, a secure system of identity and drivers licenses and other things, that is rampant with fraud,” the Governor said . [...]

Will the presidential candidates propose something positive for immigration?

Happy new year to all, immigrant or native born.  This year is bound to be interesting in my office as the presidential candidates batter around the subject of immigration while the US government continues its assault against US employer and immigrants. 
Our country has needed comprehensive immigration reform for years.  Actually, years and years.  Mostly what Congress has done over the [...]

The War Against the Attorney-Client Privilege

This morning I appeared, as required by subpoena, to testify in front of a federal grand jury about a client of mine.  I was also commanded in the subpoena to bring either my client’s original or copied version of his passport and turn it over to the assistant US Attorney.  
But my professional code of responsibility [...]

How to Destroy a Family

I am finally coming up for a breath after being completed submersed in a case for the last couple of months. 
I have been representing a family with four young children, all of whom have been detained by immigration for over two months.   Yes, this family broke our immigration laws by trying to sneak across the border [...]

Immigrants Affected in Bridge Collapse

As I listen to the news reports the past couple of days on the devastating bridge collapse in Minneapolis on August 1, 2007, I hear the interviews of people with our regional traditional ethnic names and Minnesooota accents which were highlighted in the Coen brother’s file ”Fargo.” 
But I also see that this distinct makeup of Minneapolis [...]

Ah, Such is Life

On Sunday morning I received a phone message from a former neighbor of mine during law school.  I hadn’t talked to him in about thirteen years. 
 He called to inform me that his sister Gabriela, my dear friend, had passed away suddenly at the age of 48.  Her heart failed her while she was sleeping. 
Gabriela was [...]