FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2025
Contact
media@nipnlg.org
Washington, DC – In response to President Trump issuing the presidential memorandum “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court,” Sirine Shebaya, executive director of the National Immigration Project, issued the following statement:
“The National Immigration Project condemns the directive, which is unfounded, dangerous, and blatantly anti-democratic.
“Make no mistake–this is an intimidation tactic to scare immigration and pro bono attorneys away from defending immigrants or shining a light on government abuse and misconduct. It is a transparent attempt to silence those whose duty it is to ensure people have access to due process and the ability to fully exercise their rights. Even under ordinary circumstances, attorneys have a responsibility to zealously advocate for their clients. That imperative is far greater now, with immigrants facing increasingly inhumane and unlawful detention, deportation, and family separation.
“For over 50 years, the National Immigration Project and its members have fought for the rights of all immigrants, and have used the legal tools our system of democracy explicitly provides to ensure government accountability. There is nothing unlawful about that, and no higher purpose for attorneys than defending clients’ rights, challenging unconstitutional policies, and fighting back against government overreach. Our oath to uphold the Constitution not only permits us to act; it demands action from us, and this country’s system of checks and balances cannot function without it.
“The National Immigration Project stands with immigrants, who are integral to the fabric of our society, and with lawyers across the country who remain committed to fulfilling their professional duty and moral obligation. Threats and intimidation tactics aimed at depriving our communities of their rights have no place in our democracy.”
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The National Immigration Project is a membership organization of attorneys, advocates, and community members who believe that all people should be treated with dignity, live freely, and flourish. We litigate, advocate, educate, and build bridges across movements to ensure that those most impacted by the immigration and criminal systems are uplifted and supported. Learn more at nipnlg.org. Follow the National Immigration Project on Facebook, X, BlueSky, and Instagram at @NIPNLG.