Section Sponsored Reports with Recommendations
Rights of Immigrants
- Calls upon Congress
and the Administration to take steps to ensure that the visa issuance
process is more effective and efficient, particularly for those
who seek to conduct scientific or scholarly research in the United
States and supporting policies to enhance homeland and national
security and efforts to establish new visa policies and procedures
to bolster security. Presented by the Section of Science
and Technology Law. Co-sponsored by the Section of Individual
Rights and Responsibilities, the American Immigration Lawyers
Association, the Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory
Practice, Health Law Section, the Section of Labor and Employment
Law, the Section of Intellectual Property, and the Young Lawyers
Division.
Approved as Revised February 2005
- Supports the repeal
of annual numerical caps that result in undue delays in the granting
of lawful permanent residence to those individuals who have already
been granted asylum status in the United States. Presented
by the Commission on Immigration. Co-sponsored by the Section
of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, the Standing Committee
on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, the National Legal Aid and
Defender Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Assocation,
the Commission on Domestic Violence, and the Section of Administrative
Law and Regulatory Practice.
Approved February 2005
- Adopts the ABA
Principles Relating to Juries and Jury Trials dated February
2005 and recommends that the appropriate entities review and revise,
as appropriate, their respective Standards so as to eliminate
any conflicts with the Principles and urges state, local and territorial
bar associations to improve the management of jury trials by promoting
the implementation of the Principles. Presented by
the American Jury Product. Co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice
Section, the State Bar of Arizona, the New Jersey State Bar Association,
the Section of Litigation, the Section of Business Law, the Section
of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, and the Young Lawyers
Division.
Approved as Revised and Amended February 2005
- Adopts the black letter
ABA Standards for the Custody, Placement and Care; Legal Representation;
and Adjudication of Unaccompanied Alien Children in the United
States, dated August 2004, which address the comprehensive
psychological, legal, medical, mental health, educational and
other basic needs of unaccompanied immigrant children in federal
custody. Presented by the Commission on Immigration Policy,
Practice and Pro Bono. Co-sponsored by the Section of Litigation,
the Section of Family Law, the Standing Committee on Legal and
Indigent Defendants, the Steering Committee on the UNMET Legal
Needs of Children, the Beverly Hills Association, the Commission
on Domestic Violence, the Young Lawyers Division, the Section
of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, the Section of Administrative
Law and Regulatory Practice, the Judicial Division, and the National
Legal Aid and Defender Association.
Approved August 2004
- Supports legislation
to legalize noncitizens residing in the United States who demonstrate
significant ties to the U. S. and meet certain prerequisites.
Co-sponsored by the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities.
Approved August 2002
- Urges protection
of the rights of immigration detainees by: disclosing their names
and whereabouts; allowing access to attorneys and family members;
promptly charging and, when appropriate, releasing detainees;
and holding custody hearings with the opportunity for appellate
review. Co-sponsored by the Section of Individual Rights
and Responsibilities.
Approved August 2002
- Supports
the appointment of counsel at government expense for unaccompanied
children at all stages of immigration processes and proceedings.
Co-sponsored by the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities.
Approved February 2001
- Opposes the
involuntary transfer of detained immigrants and asylum seekers
to facilities that impede an existing attorney-client relationship.
Co-sponsored by the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities.
Approved February 2001
- Opposes the use
of “secret evidence” in immigration proceedings. Co-sponsored
by the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities.
Approved February 2001
- Opposes expanding
existing law to make it easier to admit temporary foreign farmworkers
to the United States. Co-sponsored by the Section of Individual
Rights and Responsibilities.
Approved August 1999
- Opposes
any diminution of existing rights of legal permanent residents
to make campaign contributions and expenditures to the same extent
as U.S. citizens. Jointly presented by the Standing Committee
on Election Law, the Coordinating Committee on Immigration Law,
the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the Hispanic
National Bar Association. Cosponsored by the Section of Individual
Rights and Responsibilities.
Approved February 1999
- Affirms
the historic and societal importance of the naturalization process
and recommends improvements to ensure its fairness for people
with disabilities. Cosponsored with the Coordinating Committee
on Immigration Law, the Commission on Mental and Physical Disability
Law, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the American Immigration
Lawyers Association.
Approved August 1997
- Endorses
legal remedies and voluntary actions that take into account as
a factor race, national origin, or gender to eliminate or prevent
discrimination. Presented jointly with the Commission
on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession, the Commission
on Women in the Profession, the National Bar Association, the
Hispanic National Bar Association, and the National Asian Pacific
Bar Association. Cosponsored by the Chicago Council of Lawyers,
the Steering Committee on Unmet Legal Needs of Children, the Commission
on Homelessness and Poverty, the National Lesbian and Gay Law
Association, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and the
Section of Torts & Insurance Practice. Related recommendations
sponsored by the Section Approved (8/75, 2/89).
Approved as Revised August 1995
- Urges the protection
of the rights of children and opposes legislation that denies
children access to public education, health care, foster care
or social services based on their or their parents’ citizenship
or immigration status. Presented jointly with the Hispanic
National Bar Association, Steering Committee on Unmet Legal Needs
of Children, National Asian Pacific Bar Association, National
Association of Women Lawyers, Coordinating Committee on Immigration
Law, Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession,
Section of Litigation, and the Section of International Law and
Practice. Cosponsored by the Chicago Council of Lawyers. Related
recommendation sponsored by the Section Approved (2/90).
Approved February 1995
- Urges the U.S. Census
Bureau to conduct a complete census of all persons residing in
the United States, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
Approved August 1989
- Urges Congress
to extend the application period for legalization under the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986. Jointly presented with
the Young Lawyers Division.
Approved as revised February 1988
- Opposes the provision of federal financial assistance for institutions
that discriminate in any of their operations on the basis of sex,
race, color, national origin, age, or disability. Jointly
presented with the Section of Litigation.
Approved February 1986
- Recommends that the
United States law concerning visa denials should not prevent an
alien from obtaining a visa solely on the basis of past or current
political beliefs or political associations or on the basis of
the expected content of the person’s statements. Jointly
presented with the Standing Committee on Law and National Security.
Approved as Amended February 1986
- Supports the concept of federal legislation that would clearly
establish a federal right of action by both aliens and United
States citizens against person who, under color of foreign law,
engage in acts of torture or extrajudicial killing as defined
by the law of nations. Jointly presented with the Standing
Committee on World Order Under Law.
Approved as Amended August 1985
- Urges the United
States Congress to provide appropriate legislative recognition
to those denied equal justice under law pursuant to Executive
Order 9066 and subsequent Japanese Americans to detention during
World War II.
Approved as Amended August 1984
- Recommends that state
and local police should not exercise any powers of an immigration
officer or enforce federal immigration law.
Approved as Amended August 1983
- Opposes legislation relating to immigration or naturalization
that restricts judicial review or limits adjustments of status.
Supports legislation that permits grievances for denial of labor
certificates and allows immigrants equitable legal remedy for
employment grievances.
Approved February 1983
- Opposes legislation that limits the right to administrative
appeals in exclusion, deportation and asylum claims.
Approved February 1983
- Opposes legislation that limits the scope of judicial review
in immigration cases.
Approved February 1983
- Opposes legislative proposal that would limit the rights of
persons subject to exclusion, deportation or asylum proceedings.
Jointly presented with the Section of Administrative Law.
Approved as Amended February 1983
- Urges the rejection of employer sanctions for controlling undocumented
immigration.
Approved February 1983
- Supports, in principle, legislation that prohibits discrimination
in the sale and rental of housing on the basis of race, color,
creed, sex or national origin. Jointly presented with the
Special Committee on Housing and Urban Development. Related recommendation
sponsored by Section Approved (8/74, 8/87); Withdrawn (8/72).
Approved as Amended February 1980
For more information, please visit the Rights of Immigrants Committee Homepage.