Private prison attempt to claim homeowner tax credit rebuffed

In an astonishing display of hubris, private prison corporation GEO Group has been trying to benefit from a Texas sales tax exemption available only to homeowners. In a decision issued this month, a state appellate court halted GEO’s efforts, concluding that a prison is not a home even to the people locked inside. Geo Group, Inc. v. Hegar, No. 03-15-00726-CV, slip op. (Tex. Ct. App. Aug. 10, 2017). Under Texas law, gas and electricity sold for “residential use” is not subject to the state’s sales tax. GEO claimed that facilities it owns or operates fit this description, thus it should not [...]

Massachusetts top court deals detainers another blow

In another loss for federal immigration officials, the highest court in Massachusetts decided yesterday that it is illegal under state law to hold someone on an immigration detainer. Lunn v. Commonwealth, No. SJC-12276, slip op. (Mass. July 24, 2017). This case involved a man who was held in a courthouse holding cell after the judge overseeing a criminal prosecution against him dismissed the case. [Disclosure: I was one of many immigration law scholars to sign a brief authored by my colleague Christopher Lasch submitted on behalf of Mr. Lunn.] The state’s Supreme Judicial Court easily [...]

With SB 4, Texas faces legal and public safety climb

By Joshua Mitson Since President Trump’s inauguration a wave of “anti-sanctuary city” bills have been proposed by state legislatures across the country. Last Thursday, one of the most extreme variations of these bills was approved by the Texas state legislature and on Sunday, Governor Greg Abbott signed it into law. Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) is, in many ways, a standard anti-sanctuary policy – it compels local law enforcement agencies to honor ICE detainers, it forbids campus peace officers from obstructing local police from inquiring into immigration status of arrestees and compels [...]

California Supreme Court decision opens breathing room for migrants, alters typical political lineup

Last week, the California Supreme Court issued an important decision expanding the ability of migrants given poor advice about the immigration consequences of a conviction to obtain relief. In People v. Patterson, No. S225193, slip op. (Cal. March 27, 2017), the court unanimously held that a migrant isn’t barred from withdrawing a guilty plea that results in mandatory immigration detention and deportability simply because the plea form stated that conviction “may” result in adverse immigration consequences. Pursuant to Cal. Penal Code § 1016.5, all defendants are provided this generic [...]

Constitutional collision in Colorado anti-immigrant bill

By César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández and Christopher N. Lasch The virulent tone of immigration rhetoric that propelled Donald Trump to the presidency has come to Colorado. A Republican state legislator proposes to bar cities or local governmental units from limiting their cooperation with ICE. And then he goes where even President Trump hasn’t dared: criminalizing the very act of voting in favor of limiting cooperation with ICE. The proposal, House Bill 17-1134, titled the “Colorado Politician Accountability Act,” is a constitutional train wreck. If our students submitted this for a course, [...]

WI Supreme Court Adopts Realistic Plea Withdrawal Standard for Migrants Facing Inadmissibility Based on Criminal Conviction

By: Sarah Flinn The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently held that a migrant defendant is permitted to withdraw a guilty plea if she is able to show that the judge presiding over the plea hearing failed to notify her of “likely” adverse immigration consequences of conviction, as required by state statute, and that the guilty plea is now “likely” to result in adverse immigration consequences. State v. Valadez, Nos. 2014AP678, 2014AP679, 2014AP680, 2016 WL 325524, at *2, *6 (Wis. Jan. 28, 2016). In contrast to previous Wisconsin caselaw regarding the burden of proof required to show “likely” [...]

Mass. Expands “Reasonable Inquiry” for Criminal Defense Counsel

By Thamys Gaertner In October 2015, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts expanded on the duty of criminal defense attorneys’ to reasonably inquire into clients’ immigration status in cases involving refugees or asylees. Pavel Lavrinenko immigrated to the United States with his family as a refugee in 2000. Commonwealth v. Lavrinenko, 38 N.E.3d 278, 282-83 (Mass. 2015). The family fled Russia to escape religious persecution by the Russian government. Id. On April 10, 2005, Mr. Lavrinenko crashed into a lamp post while driving intoxicated, leading officers to a foot pursuit into a [...]

Utah Supreme Court: When all else fails, civil procedure can remedy ineffective assistance of counsel

By Sarah Flinn Sergio Meza filed an action under Utah state law for ineffective assistance of counsel after learning of the immigration consequences for his no contest plea to two drug charges pursuant to a plea in abeyance agreement. Meza v. State, 2015 WL 4878268, at *1 (Utah Aug. 14, 2015). Mr. Meza asserted that he had a right to relief under the Post-Conviction Remedies Act of Utah (PCRA) due to the ineffective assistance of counsel, namely, the failure of his attorney to advise him of the immigration consequences of his plea. Id. The Supreme Court of Utah ultimately concluded that Mr. [...]