Virginia Justice Program Highlighted in Washington Post Article

by CAIR Coalition Staff

In an article appearing November 8, Washington Post writer Tom Jackman discusses the disproportionate impact the criminal justice system has on non-citizens. Heidi Altman, legal director at CAIR Coalition, discusses how CAIR Coalition's Virginia Justice Program works to address this failure and educates public defenders about the immigration consequences their clients may face.

Still, immigration experts say that many states are not doing enough to ensure a fair legal process. Some are training criminal defense lawyers in immigration law, and some are hiring permanent immigration advisers, but they said that simply advising a defendant at the end of his case of possible unseen consequences is not enough.

 

“I don’t think the American public has any idea,” said Heidi Altman, legal director of the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, “how non-citizens are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system, and how that’s hurting American families.” She said cases such as a years-old DUI arrest or a small marijuana deal being used to deport an immigrant in Virginia are not unusual....

Altman’s group has begun training public defenders in Virginia in immigration law, and David Johnson, executive director of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, said he has begun advertising for a full-time lawyer “who is continually available to review plea agreements and be a resource” for public defenders. “This is important.”

  • Check out the full article here.
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