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Minneapolis Legal Aid Fellowship Offers Experience Credit for ASL and Non-English Language Proficiency

Minneapolis Legal Aid Fellowship Offers Experience Credit for ASL and Non-English Language Proficiency

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (MMLA) is offering a one-year Community Clinics Housing Justice Fellow position in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a dedicated attorney to represent low-income tenants and advance housing justice. The fellowship provides litigation experience, mentorship, and professional development. Notably, for client-facing roles such as this, MMLA offers a 'Language Proficiency Credit' where fluency in a relevant non-English language or American Sign Language (ASL) may count as one additional year of experience. To qualify, fluency must be certified at an 'Intermediate High' level or above, with sufficient oral and written skills to perform all job duties without an interpreter. This certification is conducted by an external testing service, and job offers are contingent upon meeting this standard.

Murthy Immigration Services Opens New Office in Mumbai, India, Expanding U.S. Immigration Access

Murthy Immigration Services Opens New Office in Mumbai, India, Expanding U.S. Immigration Access

Murthy Immigration Services has announced the opening of its new office in Mumbai, India. This expansion aims to make U.S. immigration services more accessible to clients in Mumbai and the surrounding areas. The new office is located at Suite 232, 2nd Floor, Idea Square, b-42, Off New Link Rd, opposite Citi Mall, next to Fairfield by Mariott Hotel, Phase D, Veera Desai Industrial Estate, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 400053. Meetings with attorneys at the Mumbai office are available by prior appointment only. Clients can schedule appointments by calling +91.44.4003.5600 or emailing info@murthyindia.com. The firm looks forward to assisting clients with their U.S. immigration needs through this new affiliate.

UN Working Group Continues Negotiations on Business and Human Rights Treaty Amidst Divisions

UN Working Group Continues Negotiations on Business and Human Rights Treaty Amidst Divisions

The UN Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group concluded its twelfth session in Geneva from October 12 to 16, 2026, continuing negotiations on a proposed legally binding instrument concerning transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. The discussions focused on provisions related to international cooperation, institutional arrangements, implementation, definitions, and the treaty's scope. The Chair-Rapporteur, Marcelo Vázquez Bermúdez of Ecuador, introduced suggested reformulations for 22 selected provisions to facilitate negotiations. A significant point of contention remains the scope of the instrument, with some delegations, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Egypt, advocating for a narrower focus on transnational corporations, while others support broader coverage of all business activities. Questions regarding legal liability and jurisdiction also remain central, with some states emphasizing consistency with international law and national judicial so...

USCIS Issues New Guidance on 'Good Moral Character' for Citizenship Applicants

USCIS Issues New Guidance on 'Good Moral Character' for Citizenship Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released Policy Memorandum PM-602-0201 on November 4, 2026, clarifying how certain financial and support obligations impact an applicant's 'good moral character' for naturalization. The memo addresses issues related to dependent support, public-benefit fraud, and sponsorship commitments. For those who signed Forms I-134 or I-134A, a willful failure to honor promised support will be considered an adverse character factor, though signing these forms is not an automatic bar to citizenship. For signers of Forms I-864, I-864EZ, and I-864A, failure to meet support obligations may negatively impact their application. However, a sponsored person's receipt of benefits does not automatically constitute a breach. The memo also states that lawful receipt of public benefits alone does not prevent naturalization; any adverse finding must be based on specific conduct after an individualized review, not on poverty, disability, or lawful benefit receipt. This guidance aims ...

ICE Detains Two U.S. Citizens During Protest Outside White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights

ICE Detains Two U.S. Citizens During Protest Outside White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights

Federal immigration agents detained at least two U.S. citizens late Friday outside Adventist White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. The detentions occurred during a protest that formed after reports of immigration enforcement activity at the hospital. According to Raquel Roman, executive director of Proyecto Pastoral and a member of the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network, the incident began when people witnessed someone being detained and taken into the hospital. This prompted a crowd to gather and protest against ICE agents, leading to the detention of the two U.S. citizens. Video footage posted on social media appears to show one person being detained by officers in tactical vests. An officer in the video cited Title 18, Section 111 of the U.S. Code, related to assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers, as the reason for an arrest. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of a 'large group causing a disturbance' but stated they did not assist federal immigratio...

Congressman Gabe Amo Attends Diwali Celebrations in Rhode Island

Congressman Gabe Amo Attends Diwali Celebrations in Rhode Island

Congressman Gabe Amo was among the dignitaries who attended Diwali celebrations organized at the Providence State House in Rhode Island. The event was hosted by the Federation of Indian Americans (FIA), New England Chapter, bringing together members of the Indian community and elected representatives. Consul General Raghuram S congratulated the FIA for their efforts in organizing the celebrations and launching a food drive for the community food bank. East Providence Mayor Roberto "Bob" DaSilva also attended the event. This gathering was part of broader Diwali celebrations across the United States and Canada, where Indian diplomatic missions extended greetings and organized cultural programs to mark the Festival of Lights.

International Law Weekend 2026 Panel Explores China's Role in Reshaping Global Legal Order

International Law Weekend 2026 Panel Explores China's Role in Reshaping Global Legal Order

The American Branch of the International Law Association (ABILA) hosted its International Law Weekend 2026, featuring a panel titled 'Rewriting the Global Legal Map? China, the Indo-Pacific, and the [R]evolution of International Legal Order.' Professor Keith J. Hand of the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, presented on China's increasing use of domestic legal instruments in international competition. His analysis focused on China's development of foreign-related legislation, sanctions, economic countermeasures, and regulatory mechanisms designed to respond to external political and economic pressure. Professor Hand introduced the concept of 'legal struggle' to describe China's strategic use of law beyond military confrontation, encompassing broader political, economic, and diplomatic competition. He highlighted how China's legal capacity has expanded in response to intensified U.S.-China competition, particularly since 2016, with China developing frameworks for foreign sanctions, ...

Justice Sotomayor Criticizes Chicago's Civil Asset Forfeiture Practices in Scathing Opinion

Justice Sotomayor Criticizes Chicago's Civil Asset Forfeiture Practices in Scathing Opinion

Justice Sonia Sotomayor has issued a strong opinion criticizing Chicago's civil asset forfeiture practices, labeling the city's scheme as 'vast and lucrative.' This comes in the context of a Chicago man losing his car over two parking tickets, despite not being the owner but merely a co-signer on the loan. The case highlights how the city's ordinance allows for the seizure of property without due process, even from individuals who do not directly owe the debt. The speaker in the source discusses instances like Ryan O'Donnell, whose car was sold for scrap, and Michael Gore, whose car was taken despite no outstanding tickets. The city justifies these actions as an exercise of police power, but critics argue it functions as a form of debt collection, enabling the government to seize property without proper legal proceedings.

U.S. Seeks Forfeiture of China-Registered G550 Jet for Exceeding 72-Hour Iran Stay

U.S. Seeks Forfeiture of China-Registered G550 Jet for Exceeding 72-Hour Iran Stay

A China-registered Gulfstream G550 business jet is facing forfeiture by the U.S. government after allegedly remaining in Iran for six days, exceeding the 72-hour limit permitted under U.S. sanctions. The aircraft, manufactured in the U.S., flew from Beijing to Tehran on December 13, 2024, and departed on December 19, 2024. U.S. prosecutors contend that this movement constituted a re-export from China to Iran, requiring a Commerce Department license that was never issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security. While the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) General License J-1 allows temporary trips to Iran, it caps them at 72 hours, a condition the G550 reportedly violated. The complaint states that OFAC did not issue a license for the aircraft to remain beyond this period. The jet is currently in FBI custody in the Eastern District of Virginia, and the action does not involve criminal charges, allowing the owner, Deer Jet, to contest the forfeiture.

DaVita Reaches ADA Agreement with U.S. Attorney's Office Over ASL Interpreter Allegations

DaVita Reaches ADA Agreement with U.S. Attorney's Office Over ASL Interpreter Allegations

DaVita, Inc., a company operating dialysis centers across the United States, has reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky. This settlement resolves a complaint filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint alleged that a DaVita dialysis treatment center in Lexington failed to provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for a deaf patient during multiple years of dialysis treatments. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, an ASL interpreter was necessary for the patient to communicate effectively during their treatment. DaVita fully cooperated with the investigation, which substantiated the allegations. As part of the agreement, DaVita will update its policies and practices concerning effective communication and securing qualified interpreters, train its staff, report future complaints, and cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure ongoing compliance. Additionally, DaVita will pay $125,000 to the complainant and a $5...

USCIS Details Green Card Eligibility and Asylum Termination Conditions for Asylees

USCIS Details Green Card Eligibility and Asylum Termination Conditions for Asylees

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlines the process for asylees to obtain a green card one year after their asylum grant. This involves filing Form I-485, the application for adjustment of status. To qualify, an asylee must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least one year post-asylum grant, continue to meet the definition of a refugee, and not have been firmly resettled in another country. The process includes an eligibility review, filing the application with supporting evidence, biometrics collection, and potentially an interview. USCIS also specifies conditions under which asylum status can be terminated, including fraud in the original application, fundamental changes in the home country's circumstances, firm resettlement elsewhere, or certain criminal or security grounds. Traveling to one's home country after receiving asylum can be seen as evidence that the fear of persecution no longer exists, potentially leading to questions about or termination of asylum status. As...

Supreme Court's Prohibition Era Decisions Continue to Shape Modern Criminal Procedure

Supreme Court's Prohibition Era Decisions Continue to Shape Modern Criminal Procedure

The South Carolina Law Review highlights that the U.S. Supreme Court's criminal procedure decisions during the Prohibition Era (1920-1933) continue to have a profound and lasting impact on contemporary legal doctrine. Despite the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1933, the precedents set by the Taft Court in cases like *Carroll v. United States* and *Olmstead v. United States* remain entrenched. These decisions fundamentally altered the interpretation of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, particularly concerning police discretion, probable cause standards, and the admissibility of evidence obtained through government misconduct. The article argues that these Prohibition-era rulings, often favoring law enforcement, laid the groundwork for many aspects of modern criminal procedure, including the 'automobile exception' to warrant requirements and the 'dual sovereignty' doctrine.