On March 3, the AABANY Issues Committee, Immigration Committee, Government Service and Public Interest Committee, Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, Intellectual Property Committee, Student Outreach Committee, and Young Lawyers Committee, in partnership with NYU Law’s Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), hosted a fireside chat with Hasan Shafiqullah of the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Law Unit at NYU School of Law. The event brought together attorneys, law students, and members of the legal community to discuss current immigration enforcement trends, detention practices, and the ethical challenges facing immigration practitioners.
The conversation highlighted the rapid pace of immigration policy changes during the Trump administration and their continuing impact on immigration practice. Shafiqullah noted that more than 1,000 immigration policy changes were implemented through executive action during Trump’s first term, and that similar patterns appear to be emerging again, alongside proposals such as the Laken Riley Act, which would significantly expand mandatory detention.
Despite these developments, Shafiqullah emphasized that federal courts remain an important avenue for relief. Through habeas corpus petitions, federal District Courts can review unlawful detention and order new bond hearings or release when appropriate. He noted that “District Court judges are understanding that due process won’t permit arbitrary action.”
The program concluded with a discussion about the emotional toll of immigration practice. Because many asylum clients have experienced severe trauma, attorneys often face vicarious trauma as well. The Legal Aid Society supports its staff by providing trainings on handling burnout, secondary trauma, and sustainable public interest practice.
AABANY thanks Hasan Shafiqullah and the Legal Aid Society for sharing their insights, and thanks APALSA and the co-sponsoring committees for organizing this timely and informative program.