Welcome to Immigration & Asylum Law!

The purpose of this course is to introduce you (UDC DCSL student) to the increasingly complex field of immigration law. During the last three decades or so, immigration has been the subject of intense public debate. As a result, Congress legislated a series of immigration reforms that have not only kept immigration practitioners busy, but have also provided expanded opportunities for graduating law students to enter this unique field of law. The courts are still grappling with complex issues raised by the implementation of the Illegal Immigration and Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA). IIRIRA brought fundamental changes to our immigration laws. These changes, most of which became effective on April 1, 1997, have resulted in increased litigation, as well as greater concern among immigrants who are in the United States in an unlawful status. Continue . . .>>

The events of 9/11 precipitated a new round of legislative and administrative measures designed to enhance immigration controls. In particular, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was abolished and its functions were transferred to the newly created Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Additionally, Congress enacted the REAL ID Act, partly as an effort to streamline judicial review of immigration decisions. However, most recently, the inability of Congress to enact immigration reform has led states and local municipalities to try to fill the vacuum and enact laws targeting aliens or non-citizens who are in the U.S. in an unlawful status.

Even if you never plan to practice immigration law for a living, it is almost certain that you will run into someone who has an immigration problem. Or perhaps you will do some badly needed pro bono immigration work for your future law firm. This course will introduce you to the basics of immigration and asylum law, and to the complex changes brought about by IIRIRA and the events of 9/11. In general, the objective of the course is to examine the administrative and legal framework regulating the admission and removal of non-citizens from the United States and to provide you with an introduction to asylum and refugee law. The course will also provide a series of exercises to introduce you to certain practical aspects of immigration law. As demonstrated by the ongoing debate about what to do with the 10 to 15 million non-citizens who are here in an unlawful status, immigration issues necessarily raise difficult policy questions which now sharply intersect with homeland security issues. Although the focus of the course is on a "survey of the law," we will discuss some of the most significant policy questions facing the decision makers and the public at large. - Prof. Francesco Isgro