May 21-22, 2025: Virtual CLE: 100 Days Later: Representing Immigrant Survivors in Tumultuous Times

ASISTA Virtual CLE Conference

100 Days Later: Representing Immigrant Survivors in Tumultuous Times

Wed., May 21 & Thru., May 22, 2025 (12-5pm ET)

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This two-day virtual conference is intended for attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives of all levels who have experience or interest in working with immigrant survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other serious crimes that make them eligible for survivor-based relief. Registrants will receive a recording of the conference.

President Trump’s first 100 days back in office have led to great confusion and fear in the immigrant survivor community, as well as to several meaningful changes. Join ASISTA experts and their nationally recognized colleagues to review some of the most impactful actions taken and responses thereto. On Day 1, we will discuss, “What has happened?” by describing the latest updates. On Day 2, we will turn to, “What should we do?” and suggest the implications for practice, both in and out of removal proceedings. Attendees will be highly encouraged to share what they are seeing in their own practices, and to participate in polls aimed at giving us all more information we can use to predict the next 100 days and the best ways to protect and advance the interests of immigrant survivors.

Intermediate Training: 8 CLE credits (pending)

Day ONE, May 21: Where Things Stand at this Time (12:00-5:00 pm ET)

Session One: (2 hrs.) 12-2 pm ET

Notable Changes: We begin the conference by reviewing some of the most notable changes to law, policy, and agency practice, since the change in administrations. Speakers will examine the provenance and language of the changes, as well as discuss their implementation and/or any injunctions or other challenges to implementation. They will also poll the audience on recent experiences to give a real-time snapshot of what is happening across the country. Among other things, topics will include changes to how USCIS processes survivor-based applications and how ICE enforcement methods and targets have evolved, particularly regarding immigrant victims of crime and abuse.

Speakers: Cecelia Friedman Levin, Tahirih Justice Center; Kelly Byrne, ASISTA; Cristina Velez, ASISTA.

Session Two: (2 hrs.) 3-5 pm ET

Remaining Resources: Despite the various changes and undeniable reduction in options for survivors, many resources and opportunities for relief remain. This session will remind participants of some of the biggest and most often-forgotten routes to protecting immigrant survivors and advancing their rights. Speakers will draw on years of experience to describe details of VAWA cancellation of removal, VAWA-based waivers, VAWA reopening, and other stays, benefits, and enforcement protections for U- and T-visa filers.

Speakers: Angel Graf, Inmigracion Digna; Rebecca Eissenova, ASISTA; Lia Ocasio, ASISTA.

Day TWO, May 22: Practical Skills For Navigating the Times (12:00-5:00 pm ET)

Session Three: (1.5 hrs.) 12-1:30 pm ET

Identifying and Mitigating Enforcement Risks: In times of intense immigration enforcement, practitioners must not panic but must prepare clients and cases for the full range of possible outcomes. Speakers in this session will review how to identify and mitigate enforcement risks in various settings, including check-ins, random stops or raids, motions to reopen, and periods when your client is post-order or reinstateable. They will examine their own recent experiences and hypothetical scenarios to describe what could happen, what could be done in advance, and what has happened in similar situations across the country.

Speakers: Matthew Green, Green – Evans-Schroeder; Monica Manzanan, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; Rebecca Eissenova, ASISTA.

Session Four: (1.5 hrs.) 2-3:30 pm ET

Decision-Making in Turbulent Times: To file or not to file? Which negative facts need to be disclosed affirmatively? How can I advise about registration? What are the ethical limitations of all of these decisions? Clients are asking countless questions these days and many do not have clear-cut answers. In this session, speakers will discuss processes for decision-making in periods of unpredictability. They will lay out factors to consider on these topics and review various hypothetical scenarios in which to practice applying what was learned on Day 1 of the conference, to reach the ideal decision for each hypothetical client.

Speakers: Charity Anastacio, AILA; Lynn Damiano Pearson, National Immigration Law Center (NILC); Lia Ocasio, ASISTA.

Session Five: (1 hrs.) 4-5 pm ET

What Your Survivor Clients Need from You: Immigrant survivors are likely feeling frightened, vulnerable, and re-traumatized by the intensity of enforcement rhetoric and actions in the new administration. This final session will discuss the skills and mindsets they need their representatives to possess to help them make it through this period. Among other things, presenters will remind attendees of certain trauma-informed best practices that are particularly important right now. They will also offer both practitioner-facing tools they are using to stay accurately apprised of changes, and community-facing resources they are passing on to their clients. Finally, they will share practice management approaches and tips on fighting the changes to lessen the impact on survivors and reinforce the rights and hopes of the immigrant community.

Speakers: Deifilia Diaz, Law Offices of Valencia and Diaz; Brooke Parr, Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC); Payal Sinha, Tahirih Justice Center; Cristina Velez, ASISTA.

Prices for full training (5 sessions = 8 CLE credit hrs.)

• $82.80 SPECIAL Rate Law Students

• $362.25 Legal Staff/Advocates/Non-Profit 

• $467.75 ASISTA Member Private Attorney

• $621 Non-member  

Note: Early bird pricing ends on May 13th. Prices for this training will increase $51.75 on Wednesday, May 14th. Registration will close the day before the training on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, at the end of the day.

Please note that effective June 29, 2024, training fees include all credit card processing costs. There will be no separate charges when paying by credit card. If you choose to pay by check, you will receive a 3.5% discount (please contact manager@asistahelp.org to confirm the correct amount). Please mail checks to: ASISTA, PO Box 12, Suffield, CT 06078.

Note: 8 hrs of Texas MCLE credits will be applied for this conference. Certificates of attendance will be available upon request and completion of training.

Questions: Contact Maria at manager@asistahelp.org with any questions.

    www.asistahelp.org

    ASISTA mailing address: PO Box 12, Suffield, CT, 06078