The federal pilot program that has federal prosecutors reviewing more than 7,000 immigration cases in Denver is expected to result in 10 to 15 percent of those backlogged cases being placed on administrative hold.
Laura Lichter, a Denver immigration attorney and president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn, said today — the day the six-week review was scheduled to end — that the freezing of cases is anticipated to be higher in Denver than in some other jurisdictions.
Lichter was participating in a telephone conference with other immigration attorneys and advocacy group officials to report on where the review of cases stands.
The review was sparked by directives issued this summer by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. The directives focus on prosecuting and deporting the most serious criminals in the ranks of illegal immigrants.
Lichter and Washington D.C.-based immigration attorney Jeanne Butterfield pointed out that the granting of administrative holds on immigration cases has its shortcomings. There is no avenue for those granted a hold to apply for authorization to work in the United States.
“That is just flat out unacceptable,” Butterfield said.
Lichter said administrative holds will be “fantastic” for people who are facing a very real threat of deportation.
For others, who are trying to work their way through the court system to get green cards, “this really doesn’t do anything for them,” she said.
Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957 or nlofholm@denverpost.com
