Washington, D.C. – Amid heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration, immigration attorneys throughout the United States are voicing their strong commitment to continue advocating for their clients, while expressing concerns over the implications this scrutiny may have on constitutional rights and the rule of law.
Recently, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice to launch investigations into immigration lawyers who have filed lawsuits against the U.S. government over the past eight years. The President branded these legal actions as “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation.” He indicated that any law firms found to be engaging in such misconduct could face penalties including the loss of federal contracts and security clearances.
Leslie Holman, an immigration attorney splitting her time between Vermont and New Hampshire, pointed out the potentially intimidating effects of the administration’s initiative. Despite this, she remains determined to represent her clients diligently. “We are going to fight for these cases, and no one can tell us who we can’t represent,” Holman stated, emphasizing the commitment of honest lawyers to uphold the rule of law through meritorious cases.
The administration’s memo also accused some members of the legal community of encouraging fraud, alleging that this contributes to mass unauthorized immigration, drains public resources, and compromises the integrity of both immigration laws and the legal profession as a whole. It specifically accused immigration attorneys of coaching clients to falsify or hide their pasts to manipulate asylum claims in their favor.
Miki Matrician, who serves as the New England chair of the American Association of Immigration Attorneys, refuted these accusations as baseless. With over 16,000 members across the country, the organization upholds its duty to adhere to the law and the constitution—a commitment enforced rigorously by state bar organizations through the suspension or disbarment of any attorney found guilty of misconduct. Matrician criticized the administration’s actions as an attempt to undermine lawyers, describing them as not only misleading but also potentially dangerous.
Boston has become a focal point for controversial immigration enforcement actions under the current administration. These have included the detention of individuals on various visa statuses, sparking widespread criticism from the legal community. Lawyers argue that these actions undermine constitutionally protected rights.
Additionally, the administration has targeted numerous lawsuits challenging the President’s executive actions on immigration. One such lawsuit was initiated by the New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support in Dover in response to efforts to end birthright citizenship for certain children. Trump has denounced these legal challenges as “baseless partisan attacks.”
Highlighting the importance of due process, Boston-based immigration lawyer Matt Maiona recalled the historical precedent set by President John Adams. Despite his personal opposition to British rule, Adams represented British soldiers accused in the Boston Massacre to ensure they received a fair trial. Maiona drew parallels to the long-standing New England tradition of defending individual rights, which he referred to as the “Boston Tea Party Effect.” He underscored the crucial role of due process and trial by jury, rights for which U.S. soldiers have fought and sacrificed.
“They put their lives on the line and gave the ultimate sacrifice to support a Constitution, not a person,” Maiona remarked. “As lawyers, we don’t have to agree with what people did, but if we support the Constitution, we have to give them a chance.”
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