Immigration Law Commons^™

Expanding The Circle Of Membership By Reconstructing The "Alien": Lessons From Social Psychology And The "Promise Enforcement" Cases, Victor C. Romero

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Recent legal scholarship suggests that the Supreme Court's decisions on immigrants' rights favor conceptions of membership over personhood. Federal courts are often reluctant to recognize the personal rights claims of noncitizens because they are not members of the United States. Professor Michael Scaperlanda argues that because the courts have left the protection of noncitizens' rights in the hands of Congress and, therefore, its constituents, U.S. citizens must engage in a serious dialogue regarding membership in this polity while considering the importance of constitutional principles of personhood. This Article takes up Scaperlanda's challenge. Borrowing from recent research in social psychology, this …

Dutch Uncle Sam: Immigration Reform And Notions Of Family, Lolita Buckner Inniss

Publications

No abstract provided.

Making Asylum Policy: The 1994 Reforms, David A. Martin

Washington Law Review

The asylum reforms adopted in 1994 provide an intriguing glimpse into the making of immigration policy in the media spotlight—an intermittent spotlight, in this policy domain, with a short attention span. My primary aim here is to capture the history of those reforms, as it appeared to an outsider who was invited to play an insider's role as a nearly full-time consultant to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) during certain crucial months in summer and fall 1993. The account should also help clarify certain central features of the reforms and offer some insight into key decisions in their shaping. …

The Single-Scheme Exception To Criminal Deportations And The Case For Chevron's Step Two, David A. Luigs

Michigan Law Review

This Note applies the two-step Chevron analysis to the single-scheme exception and argues that courts should reject the BIA's single-act test. In applying Chevron, this Note uses the narrow controversy over the proper interpretation of the single-scheme exception as a window on the larger ambiguity that plagues the Supreme Court's Chevron jurisprudence. This Note suggests an answer to a broader issue that has remained unclear under the Supreme Court's precedents: how courts should review agency interpretations at Chevron's second step.

Protecting The Office Of Legal Counsel From Itself, Harold Hongju Koh

Cardozo Law Review

Pardon me if I act like a black sheep at this symposium of Office of Legal Counsel ("OLC") alumni. Like most OLC alumni, I share the genuine affection and respect for the Office and its traditions that this symposium reflects. But at the same time, I cannot fully accept the undertone of self-congratulation that pervades this panel's two principal papers. My discomfort grows from the inordinate amount of time that I have spent over the last few years disagreeing with OLC positions, particularly in three areas of United States foreign policy. The first concerns the "Iran-Contra" prosecution of Oliver North …

Timeliness Of Petitions For Judicial Review Under Section 106(A) Of The Immigration And Nationality Act, Marilyn Mann

Michigan Law Review

This Note argues that courts should adopt a "good faith approach" to the section 106 timeliness issue. This approach would be similar to that suggested by the District of Columbia and Second Circuits. Part I discusses the statute, the relevant regulations, and the history of Supreme Court interpretation of section 106. Part II reviews the various approaches to the timeliness question developed by the courts of appeals. Part III argues that although the statutory langμage and legislative history are ambiguous on the section 106(a) timeliness question, the good faith approach would best achieve the goals of section 106: judicial economy, …

Why The Mccarran-Walter Act Must Be Amended, John Scanlan

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Extended Voluntary Departure: Limiting The Attorney General's Discretion In Immigration Matters, Lynda J. Oswald

Michigan Law Review

Fifteen times in the past quarter-century, the Attorney General has decreed that aliens of certain nationalities could temporarily remain in the United States regardless of their visa status. Government officials have characterized these grants of blanket extended voluntary departure (EVD) as a means of protecting aliens from life-threatening conditions in their homelands. The Attorney General's actions were apparently undertaken for humanitarian reasons and went largely unnoticed by the public.

Part I of this Note defines EVD and distinguishes it from related forms of deportation relief. Part II describes the Employees Union court's holding. The evolution of American perceptions of immigration …

The Legislative Veto, The Constitution, And The Courts, Robert F. Nagel

Publications

No abstract provided.

Immigration Reform: Solving The "Problem" Of The Illegal Alien In The American Workforce, Lucinda M. Cardinal

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Introduction--Reviewing Immigration Policy: The Select Commission, The Debate Over Simpson-Mazzoli, And Beyond, Lawrence H. Fuchs

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Although the authors of the Articles which follow could not possibly touch on all aspects of reform, they have highlighted several that are important, giving further stimulus to a discussion which is certain to continue even if the Simpson-Mazzoli bill passes soon. Each of them constitutes an important contribution to that discussion, and Professor Aleinikoff's Article is arguably the single most challenging and constructive to appear on the subject of asylum claims adjudication. The University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform should be congratulated for its contributions to the ongoing debate on immigration reform.

Reforming The Immigration And Nationality Act: Labor Certification, Adjustment Of Status, The Reach Of Deportation, And Entry By Fraud, Elwin Griffith

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article will consider some of the controversial sections of the INA and the impact of the pending immigration legislation. Part I considers the labor certification requirement, a prerequisite for third and sixth preference immigrants. This Part concludes that clarification of the division of authority between the Attorney General and the Secretary of Labor, and of the intent of aliens to keep their certified jobs, would be desirable. Part II analyzes the requirements an alien must meet to adjust status to one, of the occupational preferences. The statutory refusal to adjust status of aliens who accept ''unauthorized employment" must be …

Political Asylum In The Federal Republic Of Germany And The Republic Of France: Lessons For The United States, T. Alexander Aleinikoff

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The recent flood of asylum claims, and the concerns it engenders, are not peculiar to the United States. Western European nations have witnessed similar increases in asylum applications over the past decade, .and institutions charged with adjudicating claims have become severely overburdened. This Article will describe the experience of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of France in coping with the explosion of asylum claims. A comparative analysis may provide perspective on the American situation and perhaps suggest - or rule out - proposals for change currently under consideration in the United States. To appreciate the saliency of …

Political Asylum Under The 1980 Refugee Act: An Unfulfilled Promise, Arthur C. Helton

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Part I of this Article reviews the history and development of asylum law in the United States which culminated in the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980. It analyzes the failure of the responsible administrative authorities to follow the dictates of the law - a circumstance which prompted the passage of the Act and which now threatens to subvert the right to asylum in the United States. Part II considers the impact on asylum seekers of new alien interdiction and detention programs, and the legality of those programs under domestic and international law. Finally, Part III makes specific recommendations, …

Resolving The Problem Of Undocumented Workers In American Society: A Model Guest Worker Statute, Marjorie E. Powell

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note argues that a temporary foreign worker program is needed to alleviate the effects of illegal immigration. Part I describes the problems that illegal aliens present and discusses the interests of the groups affected by their presence in the United States. Part II discusses the inability of forced repatriation, amnesty, closing the border, or employer sanctions to satisfy these interests. Part II also discusses the undesirability of ignoring the problem of illegal aliens. Part III explains how a program for admission of temporary foreign workers best meets the interests of domestic employers, domestic and foreign workers, sending countries, and …

The Propriety Of Denying Entry To Homosexual Aliens: Examining The Public Health Service's Authority Over Medical Exclusions, Robert Poznanski

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note defends the position that the PHS has the authority to define homosexuality for the purpose of the section 212(a)(4) exclusion, and that the PHS definition is binding upon the INS. Therefore, the PHS's decision to refuse to examine aliens for homosexuality precludes the INS from excluding aliens on that basis. Part I of this Note traces the history of the policy of excluding homosexual aliens. Part II maintains that, regardless of the psychiatric profession's interpretation of ''psychopathic personality,'' Congress intended the expression to encompass homosexuality. Part III contends that Congress intended to empower the PHS to change its …

The Immigration Reform And Control Act: Immigration Policy And The National Interest, Alan K. Simpson

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Today more than ever the United States is a target for international migration. Population growth and economic stagnation in the Third World are increasing the pressures for emigration, and current United States immigration law is incapable of responding to the growing flow of illegal immigrants. The number of illegal aliens apprehended in the United States increased forty percent in 1983, and reached 1.4 million by the year's end. The backlog of applications for political asylum is over 165,000, and many of these claims are frivolous. Polls by Roper, Gallup, NBC, and others have shown that ninety percent of the American …

The Indefinite Detention Of Excluded Aliens: Statutory And Constitutional Justifications And Limitations, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Part I of this Note examines the statutory authority for the indefinite detention of excluded aliens. It concludes that although the INA does not explicitly authorize such detention, the statute's purposes and specific provisions imply that Congress intended to establish a statutory preference for the detention of excluded aliens. The Note then argues in Part II that indefinite detention is constitutionally permissible when it is necessary to vindicate the government's sovereign right to exclude aliens. The Note concludes, however, that the Constitution requires the government to make a continuing good faith effort to deport a detained, excluded alien.

The Dilemma Of The Refugee: His Standard For Relief, Leon Wildes

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Asylum Adjudication: Some Due Process Implications Of Proposed Immigration Legislation, John A. Scanlan

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Victims Of Natural Disasters In U.S. Refugee Law And Policy, Janet L. Parker

Michigan Journal of International Law

This note reviews the history and antecedents of subsection 203(a)(7)(B), suggests explanations for its repeal, and explores alternative relief for the individuals who might formerly have benefited from it. It is presumed that some victims of natural disasters have a need for refuge equal to that of the refugee fleeing persecution. This is not to say that every "catastrophic natural calamity," as the now defunct statutory formulation put it, produces victims requiring the extraordinary relief of asylum. Yet, when the disaster constitutes a continuing threat to human life, and aid to the stricken area cannot restore an acceptable standard of …

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act And The Pursued Refugee: Lessons From Letelier V. Chile, Michael E. Tigar

Michigan Journal of International Law

The pursuit of refugees into countries of exile is no new phenomenon. The political tumults of mid-19th century Europe sent countless people fleeing the vengeance of victorious reactionary governments. England was a popular gathering spot, having determined that it would not extradite for political offenses. England had, to some refugee leaders, an "old-established reputation ... as the safest asylum for refugees of all parties and of all countries," despite sporadic efforts to enforce statutory authority for the expulsion of aliens whose presence was embarrassing. The exiles in London found themselves hounded by the secret police of their countries, operating apparently …

The Refugee Act Of 1980: Its Past And Future, David A. Martin

Michigan Journal of International Law

Offered here is a description of the key provisions of the Refugee Act, suggesting why they took the shape they did and outlining the major difficulties that remain in crafting and sustaining effective refugee and asylum policies.

Deportation And The Refugee, Elwin Griffith

Michigan Journal of International Law

Long ago when it was unnecessary to restrict the number of aliens entering the United States, there was little distinction between refugees and other immigrants. Both groups shared similar motivations and problems. Some immigrated solely for economic reasons, while others sought new horizons because of political or religious persecution at home. In the main, though, the desire to immigrate was nurtured by the yearning for a better life.

Federal Funding Of United States Refugee Resettlement Before And After The Refugee Act Of 1980, James A. Elgass

Michigan Journal of International Law

This note begins with an examination of the problems of establishing, funding, and terminating previous resettlement programs involving Cuban and Indochinese refugees. These programs were limited to assisting refugees from specific geographic areas. Each refugee influx called for new legislation, and "new" programs frequently lingered on beyond their useful lives. Uncertainty about the timing of their eventual phaseout left state and local administrators unable to plan for a smooth transition following the termination of federal funding.

Appendix Iii, Michigan Journal Of International Law

Michigan Journal of International Law

In this section: • Review of Foreign Laws

Appendix Ii, Michigan Journal Of International Law

Michigan Journal of International Law

In this section: • Review of United States Law

Special Problems Of Custody For Unaccompanied Refugee Children In The United States, Ellen J. Durkee

Michigan Journal of International Law

Part I of this note provides an overview of federal legislation regarding admissions of unaccompanied refugee children. Part II describes various obstacles to a smooth transition from the child's admission into the United States to his or her placement by a state court with a permanent legal custodian who ensures that the child receives care and supervision. Problems in this area frequently result from uncertainties regarding long-term financial responsibility for the child. Also common are procedural difficulties in introducing unaccompanied refugee children into state child welfare systems. Part III then focuses on conflicts arising after the child's placement, when the …

Legal Rights Of Refugees: Two Case Studies And Some Proposals For A Strategy, Steven M. Schneebaum

Michigan Journal of International Law

In a recent decision of far-reaching implications, Filartiga v. Pena-Irala, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit not only identified one such right, but provided invaluable guidance as to how the broader question is to be addressed. This essay offers an analysis of the decision in Filarh'a, as well as a case presenting intriguing points of comparison, Tran Qui Than v. Blumenthal. It then proposes several generalizations concerning the identification of legal rights of refugees, suggesting a strategy for their enforcement, the upshot of which is this: creative marshalling and invocation of rights well …

Nordic Refugee Law And Policy, Göran Melander

Michigan Journal of International Law

Since the end of World War II, the Nordic states have shown an interest in refugee policy and have taken part in work on behalf of refugees through various international organizations. In the 1940s and the 1950s, when Western Europe was faced with a huge refugee problem, the Nordic states shared the burden with countries of first asylum in Central Europe by admitting refugees for permanent resettlement. In the 1960s and 1970s, when other continents were confronted with refugee problems, the Nordic states also generously contributed material assistance to refugees resettled in neighboring countries. In 1979, for instance, the Nordic …