Immigration Enforcement

Our program has engaged in numerous initiatives regarding immigration enforcement in Massachusetts and across the country.

Litigation

Granados Benitez v. Wilkinson (01/2021)
This favorable decision grants the petition of a Honduran man whose motion to reopen removal proceedings was previously denied by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Alasaad v. Wolf (08/2020)
This brief, fielding partnership with the HLS Cyberlaw Clinic, addresses the constitutional implications of electronic device searches at the border.

Ortiz v. Barr (08/2020)
This brief requests that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reverse its prior decision relying on the flawed Boston Regional Intelligence Center’s gang database to affirm the deportation of a young Latino Boston resident.

Ryan v. ICE (05/2020)
This brief argues that arrests made at state courthouses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are unconstitutional.

Nasrallah v. Barr (12/2019)
This brief, which was submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, argues that federal courts should be able to review removal orders against noncitizens with criminal backgrounds who fear persecution in other countries.

United States of America v. Shelley M. Richmond Joseph (10/2019)
This brief is in support of the motion to dismiss the obstruction of justice charges against a district court judge who allegedly helped an undocumented immigrant avoid ICE.

Policy Advocacy

(11/2020)
This report by the UN Special Rapporteur cites our Program’s comments, which we submitted in May 2020.

Comments to the Special Rapporteur Regarding Race, Borders, and Digital Technologies (05/2020)
We submitted comments concerning the United States’ recent embrace of social media screening in immigration determinations, and its discriminatory impact on racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.

Comments on Expedited Removal (09/2019)
Our program submitted comments on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposal to expand expedited removal.

Sanctuary Campus Toolkit (02/2017)
This report was created for Cosecha by the Immigration Response Initiative, a student-led organization at Harvard Law School. These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) aim to equip student organizers and their faculty and administrator allies with the tools to successfully engage in dialogue with campus administrations and communities to develop the strongest policies for protecting those who study, work, and live on a college or university campus.

Recent News

See below to read a great article with our own clinical instructor and lecturer on law, Phil Torrey (quoted below):
After a long search, we have hired a new social worker! We warmly welcome Liala Buoniconti, who will be working
L-R: Micah Stein, HLS ’15 and Isabelle Sauriol, HIRC Summer Interns 2013 Isabelle Sauriol, a 2013 L.L.B. graduade from the