I’m still looking for cost-effective ways to promote freer immigration. But one EconLog reader, who prefers to be known solely as “Isaac,” is forging ahead with the best tools he’s got. Reprinted with Isaac’s permission…
Bryan:
Based entirely on following your blog and watching videos of your
debates, I became an open borders supporter and keenly concerned with
the plight of third-worlders being forcibly prevented from moving to the
first world.
debates, I became an open borders supporter and keenly concerned with
the plight of third-worlders being forcibly prevented from moving to the
first world.
As a Chicago-based attorney and law firm owner, I realized that I
could help by taking an asylum case pro bono. I received training and
support from the NIJC,
and represented a woman from Eritrea that was detained since last
winter in a county detention center in Southern Illinois. She was
tortured and imprisoned for reporting her superior officer for groping
her and preventing her from seeing her family, and this was after being
forced to serve in the national service for 7 years (i.e. indefinite
forced labor). I’m so glad she was able to escape.
could help by taking an asylum case pro bono. I received training and
support from the NIJC,
and represented a woman from Eritrea that was detained since last
winter in a county detention center in Southern Illinois. She was
tortured and imprisoned for reporting her superior officer for groping
her and preventing her from seeing her family, and this was after being
forced to serve in the national service for 7 years (i.e. indefinite
forced labor). I’m so glad she was able to escape.
I’m overjoyed to report that I very recently convinced an
immigration judge to grant her asylum. She was released immediately and,
as we speak, is journeying to Austin, Texas with the help of a refugee
not-for-profit.
immigration judge to grant her asylum. She was released immediately and,
as we speak, is journeying to Austin, Texas with the help of a refugee
not-for-profit.
I seriously doubt I would have had the energy or inclination to
take on such a case, pro bono, without coming in contact with your
writings and philosophy. Thanks for unwittingly convincing me to do so!
take on such a case, pro bono, without coming in contact with your
writings and philosophy. Thanks for unwittingly convincing me to do so!
Best,
Isaac
READER COMMENTS
David R. Henderson
Jun 12 2017 at 3:51pm
Excellent, Bryan and especially excellent, Isaac.
Rex Salisbury
Jun 12 2017 at 5:24pm
Isaac, how much would such a case have cost if it were not pro bono? I’m wondering if it would be cost effective to sponsor multiple such asylum cases. Also, how many such individuals might exist that would be suited for such representation and it is feasible to get in contact with them.
Brad
Jun 13 2017 at 9:52pm
Congrats Bryan. If we could all have similar achievements.
Ari
Jun 14 2017 at 9:41am
This was good.
Edward
Jun 19 2017 at 4:52am
[Comment removed pending confirmation of email address. Email the webmaster@econlib.org to request restoring this comment and your comment privileges. A valid email address is required to post comments on EconLog and EconTalk.–Econlib Ed.]
Isaac
Jun 19 2017 at 5:02pm
Thanks so much, guys. And especially Bryan for putting this out there.
The NIJC takes litigation-experienced lawyers and helps assign and supervise their asylum case. It takes about 80 hours for the pro bono lawyer to complete. NIJC somehow manages to retain THOUSANDS of clients per year with a fairly small staff of attorneys (though many clients need far less than asylum representation).
The pro bono law firm has to pay all expenses. The main expense is usually hiring a translator, which might cost $2-5K. An extremely generous forensic MD donated her time to provide a report to the court–I don’t know whether this is typically available.
So at a cost of a few thousand dollars and many dozen hours, I suppose it’s not inexpensive. It’s typically used by big firms to provide trial experience to their new attorneys.
Comments are closed.