Printable PDF version of press release.

June 2, 2020—The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court in Nasrallah v. Barr, upholding the right of a noncitizen to appeal an immigration judge’s denial of his claim for protection under the Convention Against Torture. Nidal Khalid Nasrallah is a Lebanese native who is at risk of torture by ISIS and Hezbollah if deported to Lebanon. U.S. and international law say that someone cannot be deported to a country where they will face torture.

ILCM joined in an amicus brief in this case, which argued that, “Immigration judges adjudicate torture claims within an overtaxed system lacking sufficient safeguards against error.” ILCM Executive Director Veena Iyer praised the decision, explaining, “The right to appeal to a federal court is particularly crucial today. With immigration courts overworked and politicized, Nasrallah and others in similar situations need the protection of review by independent federal court judges.”

The Court’s 7-2 decision was written by conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Neil Gorsuch. Only Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.

The National Immigrant Justice Center led the alliance of legal service providers that filed the amicus brief. NIJC Director of Appellate Litigation Chuck Roth said, “Today’s Supreme Court decision allows courts to reverse immigration court decisions that wrongly deny torture protection. It confirms the argument we have been advancing for many years. This is an important step toward accountability for immigration court decisions, though it is only a small step toward a return to decency in our immigration system.”

We know and recognize that members of our immigrant and refugee communities are protesting in solidarity with George Floyd and his family and opposing injustices in all of our communities. Noncitizens face unique risks when confronted by law enforcement. Please ensure you are aware of your rights and can assert them. If you are a noncitizen and have been arrested and charged as a result of all this, it is critical that you receive good criminal and immigration advice. 

Please contact: 

For protest arrestee legal support, call 612-444-2654. This is a joint project of National Lawyers Guild, Legal Rights Center, and MN Freedom Fund. https://www.facebook.com/nlgminnesota/posts/2624147594358086

Public Defenders Offices:

            Ramsey County: Second District Management Office: Phone: 651-757-1600 Fax:  651-215-0673

Second District Satellite Office: Phone: 651-266-1991 Fax: 651-266-1994

            Hennepin County: Fourth District Management Office: Phone:  612-348-7530  Fax:  612-348-6179

            Other district offices: https://www.pubdef.state.mn.us/districtoffices 

Neighborhood Justice Center: For people in Ramsey, Dakota or Washington counties, please call NJC directly at 651-222-4703 and ask for an intake. Website: https://www.njcinc.org/contact

MN Freedom Fund: If you hear of anyone being picked up who needs help paying bond, refer them to MN Freedom Fund. There is an application online. 

1. https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/
2. https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/immigration-bond-referral

University of St. Thomas School of Law Criminal & Juvenile Defense Clinic: Call (651) 962-4961 and inform the staff that you would like to complete an intake for the Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic. They are representing people charged with gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, petty offenses, and delinquency offenses in connection with the protests. You can also apply online at https://stthomas.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4JDZzyjpbJhOGJD.