HCMP, as part of its pro bono services to Episcopal Bishops and the ACLU of Washington, has filed three amicus briefs related to immigrant rights.

The first two briefs were filed in support of two challenges to the President’s attempt to suspend immigration from six Muslim-majority countries and the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program. HCMP filed the briefs in the Fourth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals on behalf of Episcopal Bishops from across the country. The Bishops' dioceses actively work to resettle refugees and immigrants from all over the world, including from the targeted countries. The Ninth Circuit heard oral argument in State of Hawai'i v. Trump on May 17th, just nine days after the Fourth Circuit heard oral argument in International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump. Plaintiffs' attorney in the Ninth Circuit, Neal Katyal, specifically mentioned the Bishops’ brief during oral argument. On May 25, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s nationwide injunction against the President’s travel ban. A decision from the Ninth Circuit is expected soon.

HCMP’s third amicus brief was filed on behalf of the ACLU of Washington on May 12, 2017, and backed the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project’s (NWIRP) lawsuit in federal court challenging a U.S. Department of Justice “cease and desist” letter. The “cease and desist” letter is aimed at preventing NWIRP attorneys from providing certain types of free legal aid to people in immigration court—work the organization has done for more than 30 years. On May 17, 2017, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked the Department of Justice from enforcing that “cease and desist” letter and from issuing similar letters nationwide. 

HCMP attorneys Mike Scott, Amit Ranade, Lisa Chaiet Rahman, Jake Ewart and Andy Murphy provided legal services on these activities.