Monday March 25

2024

Anti-Black Unconscious Bias By Immigration Judges: How Lawyers Can Interrupt Bias During Closing Arguments

This interactive training is designed to equip immigration lawyers with effective strategies for addressing anti-Black bias during closing arguments in immigration court. Attendees will gain insights into implicit bias and its role in anti-Black bias in the immigration system. Instructors will also teach techniques for intervening and counteracting judicial bias.

Attendees will use sample closing arguments to tailor their own scripts to their unique style and cases. Additionally, moderators will facilitate small breakout groups, where attendees will practice their closing arguments.

Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution or perfect closing argument, this training empowers attendees in their journey of honing their closing arguments. By experimenting with various approaches and observing how local immigration judges respond, attendees can refine their strategies over time. Ultimately, our goal is to foster higher-quality rulings from judges that are less influenced by bias to promote fairness and justice within the immigration system.

This training is tailored for lawyers and advocates who regularly appear in Immigration Court. Please note that it is not intended for Immigration Judges, and we will not cover post-ruling appeal procedures. Additionally, the training will be conducted entirely remotely, including the mock closing argument breakouts. We hope you join us on this important endeavor to combat bias and promote equity in immigration court.

Instructors

- Rex Chen, Director of Immigration, Legal Services NYC

- Nermeen Arastu, Assoc. Professor & Co-Director of the Immigrant & Non-Citizen Rights Clinic, CUNY Law

- Haddy Gassama, Nat'l Director of Policy and Advocacy, UndocuBlack Network

CLE Credits:

- Skills - 1.5

- Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias - 1.0

CLE Suitability: Appropriate for experienced and new attorneys