Law Commons^™

Convergence: A Meeting Responds To Cries Of Desperation, David Bristol, Lee J. Teran, Gretchen Haynes

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Calls For National Identity Card To Halt Illegal Immigration, Jeffrey F. Addicott

Faculty Articles

Rising concerns for security and integrity have caused the federal government to revisit the issue of who is allowed into the United States. Each year, tens of millions of visas are granted to foreign nationals for reasons varying from education, travel, to even conducting business. Of paramount concern is that about forty percent of the nation’s undocumented immigrants are those who have overstayed their visas. While millions overstay their visas, millions more continue to pour across an open border from Mexico. One proposal made by the Senate to halt or slow illegal immigration is the creation of a national identity …

The Glass Half-Full: A Rational/Radical Approach To Immigration Reform, Bill Piatt

Faculty Articles

The problems the United States faces in redirecting immigration policies cannot be successfully addressed by a quick fix immigration “reform.” The legal, economic, sociological, political, racial, and moral issues are too complex and have been largely unresolved. As a result, it is unrealistic to expect political leaders to develop an easy solution that will satisfy the myriad competing and conflicting concerns.

Most of the calls for reform are not issued by individuals completely aware of the extent of immigration regulation and of its impact on American society. Rather, calls come from those with relatively narrow interests from all ranges of …

Immigration Reform From The Outside In, Bill Piatt

Faculty Articles

Immigration reform is made up of two differing extreme positions, but by seeking common ground, a more fair and balanced approach may be adopted in the best interests of all.Rather than trying to analyze positions as conservative or liberal, it makes more sense to view the extremes as a “closed border” versus “open border” approach. The extreme positions will not work, so a more middle-ground position would require a thoughtful examination of a number of issues. Those issues are what are the costs and benefits of removing those already illegally here; what role should the federal, state, and local governments …

One View To Add To The Many, Bill Piatt

Faculty Articles

The United States offers its citizens the opportunity to participate in the legal and political system through which it governs. The Constitution ensures that its citizens may engage, participate, and represent the body politics in government and the application of its laws. The recent attacks on America and the failure of the immigration system in monitoring its applicants has resulted in more restrictive immigration laws and policy.

The country’s legal education system must continue to improve its efforts in diversifying the nation’s law schools. More minorities should be represented as students, professors, and deans. Accomplishing a more diversified legal education …

America’S Preoccupation With Ethics In Government, Vincent R. Johnson

Faculty Articles

Many Americans today expect that the law can, should, and will be used to ensure a level playing field in public life. Americans expect the law to eliminate, insofar as possible, any unfair advantage that might be gained through the use of special connections to those who exercise the power of government. There are numerous rules applicable to judges, lawyers, and public officials that each seek to promote equal treatment for all persons by limiting the ability of persons to use special connections and privileged relationships to gain an advantage in public affairs.

There were two threads of development in …

Obtaining Remedies For Ins Misconduct, Lee J. Teran

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Immigration Law: The Immigration Consequences Of Criminal Activity, Genevieve Hebert Fajardo, Lorelei Ritchie

Faculty Articles

Immigration laws in the United States may affect prisoners, possibly resulting in deportation. Some convicted prisoners who are aliens may be subject to deportation dependent upon the government’s ability to prove by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence that they fall into a deportable category. Providing prisoners with sufficient knowledge and answers to potential deportation questions stemming from criminal convictions may delay and thwart these proceedings.

By beginning with a categorization of the different types of immigrants in this country, a convicted prisoner will be better able to determine for themselves whether they are subject to deportation. If they are, this …