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Catholic Legal Services

Spring 2025 In-Person Seminar

Rising to the Challenge


Litigation and Detention Update

Friday, April 25, 2025

Saint Martha’s Parish Center, 9221 Biscayne Blvd, Miami Shores, FL 33138

Seminar Agenda

08:30am - 09:00am

Registration and Breakfast

Moderators:
Ilaria Cacopardo, Catholic Legal Services Board Vice President (Miami, FL) BIO
Jordan Dollar, Catholic Legal Services Board President (Miami, FL) BIO
09:00am - 10:00am

Successful Pivot! Advanced strategies for Venezuelans, Haitians and Ukrainians coming out of TPS

Status of Jennings parole arguments following release from ERO custody. Pre-July 1, 2022 Paroles and eligibility for Adjustment of Status under 245(a).

  • Utilizing § 245(k)
  • Effect of re-entry with I-512T, post-July 2022
  • End of Carecen Settlement Agreement

Consular Processing as an option.

  • Analyzing unlawful presence under TPS & asylum pending
  • Risk of arrest & detention for clients with final order

Applying for Asylum now: arguments, procedure, what to expect

Speakers:
Randolph "Randy" McGrorty (DL), Executive Director, Catholic Legal Services (Miami, FL) BIO
Mark Prada, Founding Member of Prada Dominguez, PLLC; AILA SFC National Litigation Committee (Miami, FL) BIO
Ana Maria Candela, Catholic Legal Services Board Director (Miami, FL) BIO
10:00am - 10:15am
Coffee Break
10:15am - 11:15am

Wait, what? Expedited Removal! Revocation of paroles including CBP-One and other recent arrivals; termination of court proceedings. Understanding criteria for expedited removal.

What about credible fear screening?
Opposition to expedited removal and termination of § 240 proceedings.

  • Legal arguments and procedure
  • What happens next, procedurally?
  • Risk of detention and availability for parole or bond
Speakers:
John Gihon (DL), Former Chapter Chair for the AILA Central Florida Chapter (Orlando, FL) BIO
Miguel Mora, Former Supervising Attorney, Catholic Legal Services (Miami, FL) BIO
Linda Osberg Braun, Former Federal PD & Deputy Chief Counsel ICE; Former Adjunct Professor, UM Law (Miami, FL) BIO
Anthony Dominguez, Partner, Prada Domínguez PLLC (Miami, FL) BIO

11:15am - 11:30am
Refreshment Break
11:30am - 12:30pm

Effective Motions and Winning bond hearings; understanding (and fighting) the emergency and automatic stays.

Understanding the Laken Riley Act; new INA § 236(c)(1)(E). Contesting Mandatory Detention and the Joseph hearing. Non-mandatory detention w/ DUI or other arrests.
  • ICE appeals, Emergency Stay, and Automatic Stay, understanding the procedure, successfully advocating for your client
Speakers:
Mary Kramer (DL), Author, Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity: A Guide to Representing Foreign Born Defendants; Catholic Legal Services Board Director (Miami, FL) BIO
Jeremy Lasnetski, Partner, Lasnetski Gihon Law; AILA Member (Jacksonville, FL) BIO
Art Rios BIO

12:30pm - 01:30pm

Lunch (provided). Keynote Speaker Address

Inspiration, Courage and Humor
Attorneys John Pratt and Anthony "Tony" Drago (Boston)
01:45pm - 03:00pm

Goodbye prosecutorial discretion; Hello Federal Court.

Beginners’ Introduction on admittance to the federal courts, using PACER and the Electronic Court Filing System. How to file a complaint; serve the summons; what to expect. Understanding Habeas Corpus and Suspension Clause

  • Using habeas to contest prolonged detention, conditions of detention
  • Litigating ICE’s abuse of the automatic stay
  • Options for transfers out of original jurisdiction

Basics of the petition for review and administrative & judicial stays. Federal Mandamus & Declaratory Judgment actions to address processing delays and legally erroneous USCIS decision.

  • Applicable statutes and criteria for a claim; jurisdictional bars

Kanapuram, et al v. Director, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al Patel v. Garland

Speakers:
Anthony ("Tony") Drago (DL), Member, AILA National EOIR Liaison Committee; Former Chair of the AILA New England Chapter (Boston, MA) BIO
John Pratt, Partner, Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli & Pratt; AILA SFC Member (Miami, FL) BIO
Jose William Alvarez (Miami, FL) BIO
Mark Prada, co-founder of Prada Urizar, PLLC; AILA SFC National Litigation Committee (Miami, FL) BIO

03:00 - 03:15
Coffee Break
03:15pm - 04:30pm

Updates on USCIS applications and consular processing: this panel will discuss trends in decision-making, NOIDs, and RFEs in the context of benefits.

  • Adjustment of status and I-130
  • Nonimmigrant change and extension of status
  • Consular processing for immigrant visas
  • Nonimmigrant visa trends and delays
  • Ask the Experts: Question and Answer Period: 15 minutes
Speakers:
Kari Fonte (DL), Former Chair, USCIS-AILA National Field Operations Liaison Committee; Former Chair, AILA South Florida Chapter (Miami, FL) BIO
Christine Alden, Former Chapter Chair, AILA S. Florida (Miami, FL) BIO
Miriam Acosta-Castriz, President, AILA S. Florida; Partner at the Firm Acosta & Fraga Law PLLC BIO

*** Invited

Important Information

Registration Deadline

Registration closes at 4:59 pm ET on April 23, 2025 or when CCLS has reached capacity at the parish hall, whichever occurs first. 2025 Spring Seminar will be an in-person event, held at the St. Martha Parish Hall. There is not a virtual option for the 2025 Spring Seminar

CLE Credits

Pending

Spring Seminar Registration Rates

Type Rate
Private Attorneys & Staff Early Bird (Mar 26 - Apr 11) $300
Private Attorneys & Staff $350
Nonprofit Agency Staff $250
Government Employees $250
Law Students $200

Payment and Cancellation

There are NO REFUNDS for cancellations.

Transfers

Transfer requests must be sent via email to administratorcls@cclsmiami.org. Transfers will only be accepted for colleagues within the same organization through April 21st.

Continuing Legal Education

CLE for Attorney Participants
Certificates will only be distributed to those who attend the live workshop

Catholic Legal Services is authorized by the State Bar of Florida to provide minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) training. If you are a Florida attorney, you are eligible to claim (CLE Credit Hours Pending) hours of MCLE credits. If you are an attorney licensed in another state, please check with your state bar to determine whether this training qualifies for MCLE credit. DOJ Accredited Representatives and other professionals will receive a certificate of attendance for CCLS 2025 Spring Seminar.

CCLS Events Health Policy

CCLS makes the health and safety of all seminar attendees a priority. We are committed to following all U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as well as local health and facility protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will adopt enhanced health and safety measures, as appropriate.

  • Currently the state of Florida, the city of Miami and St. Martha do not have COVID-19 vaccination or mask requirements
  • Find more information on Florida's COVID-19 protocols here
  • Updates will be made on the seminar website and will be communicated by email

CCLS Health and Safety Protocols

  • CCLS will have hand sanitizer and face masks available
  • CCLS will utilize a low-contact check-in process at registration
  • CCLS will work with the parish to ensure regular disinfecting and cleaning of high-traffic areas and touch points

Catholic Legal Services is a not-for-profit organization providing professional immigration services and representation to a low-income/no-income clientele. Your support will help CLS to continue to provide top notch pro-bono representation to indigent. Thank you

Special Thank You

  • St. Martha Catholic Church
  • Fr. Juan Salazar, Pastor of St. Martha Catholic Church
  • Catholic Legal Services Conference Planning Committee
  • Mary E. Kramer, Chair, CLE Committee
  • Ilaria Cacopardo, Chair, CLS Development Committee
  • Jordan Dollar, CLS Board President
  • Randy McGrorty, CLS Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
  • Miguel Mora, Esq.
  • Jose Alvarez, Esq.

If you have any questions about the Spring CLE, please email administratorcls@cclsmiami.org

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