The Trump administration's effort to escalate deportations of undocumented immigrants has created a climate of fear among immigration judges and lawyers. Following an executive order in March, immigration attorneys express concerns about potential risks to their careers and licenses due to accusations of misconduct, such as coaching clients in lying on asylum petitions. Former immigration judge Ilyce Shugall noted that the executive order's intimidating language suggests that even ethical advocacy could lead to investigations and sanctions against attorneys, raising serious concerns about the protection of immigrants' rights and due process.
"I think there is a valid fear among the immigration community of attorneys and legal service providers that we are putting ourselves at risk, putting our careers at risk, our license at risk if we're too vocal about the work that we do."
"The language in that executive order was very threatening, that by helping someone apply for asylum we're violating our ethical rules as attorneys and that we will be investigated and could be charged and lose our licenses if we continue to help people seeking asylum."
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