Retaliation is certainly something I've considered as an immigration lawyer, but these days it just seems so real.
But there are marching orders to deny entry to anything remotely Iranian...
So, here goes. And to all journalists, unfortunately my clients' identities must remain confidential.
They detained him anyway.
A United States citizen. He wasn't of Iranian heritage.
When I got there, my forms were handed back to me, dishonored. CBP said the US Supreme Court ruled they weren't valid.
There is no such ruling. CBP lie #1. But I'm just getting started.
I was told "they'll be admitted." So what was the holdup?
"We're not telling, and we'll be done when we're done."
I asked about the green card holder, and was told he was being regarded as "seeking admission."
They said he was because he wasn't coming in from a contiguous land border.
CBP lie #2. The law doesn't say this at all.
"Oh, that was just recently added for the border tent courts."
CBP lie #3. The box has been on the form for years.
They didn't care, saying, "we do a lot more than admissions here."
Mostly a lie. They do admissions, but called the FBI to do interrogation.
That was the smartest thing I heard them say all night.
I gather these are part of standard CBP officer training.
We decided to put together a non-exhaustive list affectionately called "CBPBS."
Feel free to append!
Refusal to admit client exists “on basis of privacy”
Refusal to pass message that attorney is trying to reach client
Refusal to admit G-28 (entry of appearance) fax received
Refusal to accept G-28 because “this isn't immigration court”
Refusal to give G-28 to client to let them sign it
Lying to client and telling them that their attorney has misfiled documents
Lying to client and telling them that they are not eligible for any relief
Erroneous statement that SCOTUS has ruled there's no right to counsel at the border
Irrelevant statement that “we do a lot more than admissions here”
Erroneous statement that LPRs are regarded as seeking admission “because they are not coming from a contiguous land area”