Program

The U visa was created by Congress nine years ago, but agency neglect has only recently made it available to victims of serious crimes. While the law is very broad, problems still remain in that certification from a government agency is required for approval. This panel will discuss the intended breadth of the U visa, and examine how to deal with resistance within law enforcement agencies in seeking certification for your client.

* Statutory Requirements for U Relief
* Intent Issues and Qualifying Crimes
* Demonstrating Substantial Physical or Mental Abuse
* Assistance to Law Enforcement-How Much Is Enough?
* Breaking Through Institutional Bias from Law Enforcement in the Certification Process
* Clients in Proceedings or with Orders of Removal
* Adjustment Process for U Visa Holders

The "Opportunities and Obstacles with U Visas" Web Seminar takes place Thursday, February 25, at the times noted below:
2:00 pm-3:30 pm eastern time
1:00 pm-2:30 pm central time
12:00 pm-1:30 pm mountain time
11:00 am-12:30 pm pacific time

Faculty

Gloria A. Goldman (dl), Tucson, AZ
Gloria A. Goldman has practiced immigration and nationality law in Tucson, Arizona since 1991. She practices with her son, Maurice (Mo) Goldman at the Goldman & Goldman firm. Ms. Goldman represents clients in the areas of business immigration, family immigration, citizenship, as well as complicated deportation matters.

Karl W. Krooth, San Francisco, CA
Karl W. Krooth practices post-conviction relief for Immigrant Crime & Justice, APC (http://www.immigrantcrime.com), and represents foreign nationals who are inadmissible or otherwise subject to removal. Mr. Krooth has a B.A. from UC Berkeley and a J.D. from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College. Before joining the immigration bar, Mr. Krooth first prosecuted crime and then conducted criminal defense. In addition to his service on the AILA NorCal board for years as liaison to local law enforcement (and the criminal bar), he has a long-standing commitment to the National Immigration Project as well as the National Lawyers Guild's San Francisco Chapter. As to the latter, he has both chaired the local immigration committee and served on the board.

Gail L. Pendleton, Plymouth, MA
Gail L. Pendleton is co-founder of the National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women and co-director of ASISTA, a national immigration law technical assistance project funded by the DOJ's Office on Violence Against Women. Formerly associate director of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, Ms. Pendleton received AILA's Human Rights Award in 2001. She received her J.D. in 1985 from New York University School of Law and her A.B. from Harvard/Radcliffe College in 1981.

Registration

AILA Members: $129

Non-AILA Members: $169

For more information and to register, click here.