President Biden's Problematic Pardons
IDP has been sounding the alarm over President Biden’s decision to shut out many immigrants from his order pardoning people for simple marijuana possession. Several news outlets including Democracy Now quoted IDP’s Jane Shim who explained why the President’s announcement was deeply disappointing for immigrant communities. To learn more about IDP’s ongoing fight to decriminalize marijuana, please click here for proposed legislation, training resources, and stories of people who have been directly impacted by the war on drugs.

Standing Up for One Day to Protect New Yorkers
On September 28th, the Second Circuit heard oral argument in Peguero Vasquez v. Garland, over the retroactivity clause in the One Day to Protect New Yorkers Act. IDP and allies fought for this misdemeanor sentencing reform law in 2019, and the Board of Immigration Appeals is now relying on a precedent set under Trump that refuses to recognize a key part of the law in federal immigration proceedings. Read more about the case in this Twitter thread. Hats off to the students in the Harvard Crimmigration Clinic who argued the case with co-counsel Prisoners' Legal Services, and to our amicus co-counsel at the Cardozo Immigration Justice Clinic!

Coming Up: Free Legal Trainings

• Beyond Roldan and Pickering, Nov 14, 1:30-3:00 ET:  Post-conviction relief  in state criminal proceedings can entirely eliminate a conviction for state law purposes.  However, under current federal law, that eliminated state conviction may still be considered a “conviction” for immigration purposes. This training aims to equip lawyers to argue that their clients’ state post-conviction relief must be recognized for immigration law purposes, no matter the basis for the state court’s order. Register here.
• Representing Immigrants in NYC Specialized Courts, Nov 30, 3:30-4:30 ET: Today, there are dozens of specialized courts in New York City. Representing immigrants in these courts requires a nuanced understanding of of procedure and the unique considerations around their models of judicial diversion.  This training will teach defense attorneys some of the considerations that could come up for immigrant clients in these court parts and strategies for resolving the criminal case. Register here.

The Crim-Imm Happy Hour is Back
After a long pandemic hiatus, IDP was delighted to bring advocates across New York together for a Crim-Imm Happy Hour last month. It was such a treat to reconnect with old friends and to forge new connections. Big thanks to everyone who came out and much love to IDP’s Genia Blaser for bringing back this IDP tradition!