On March 22, President Donald Trump threatened to take new actions against lawyers and law firms that bring immigration lawsuits and cases related against the government that he deems unethical. In a memo directed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said lawyers were helping to fuel "rampant fraud and meritless claims" in the immigration system, and directed the Justice Department to seek sanctions against attorneys for professional misconduct.
Titled "Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court," Trump's memo accused immigration attorneys of "unscrupulous behavior," saying that they frequently "coach clients to conceal their past or lie about their circumstances when asserting their asylum claims."
Amid possible sanctions and a stricter oversight of attorneys in asylum and immigration cases, a South Florida blog that specializes on immigration law responded to Trump's memo by telling migrants what to do if they are targeted by the administration's mass deportation policies.
Known as the "Nerdy Immigration Lawyers," the blog recommended undocumented immigrants to "reach out to your local and state bar associations to take a stance against it," using current lawsuits filed by the American Immigration Lawyers Association and by the American Civil Liberties Union as an example. One of the lawyers who posted on the blog also recommended individuals to "document everything" and, if possible, "have an officer security system/plan in place" in case immigration officers paid a visit to their homes, the Miami Herald reported.
After news about Trump memo's broke out, immigration lawyers across the country called it a violation of the Constitution, arguing that Trump's order aims to empower the president and weaken his government adversaries.
Regina de Moraes, a South Florida immigration attorney, told the Miami Herald that claims from the Trump administration about immigration attorneys improperly representing their clients are both unfounded and dangerous. Despite claiming that "the vast majority of immigration lawyers play by the rules," de Moraes said Trump's increased targeting of immigration attorneys is likely "to make it harder" for undocumented immigrants to find a lawyer due to fear and intimidation.
The new action taken by the Trump administration follows another executive order issued earlier in March which targeted law firms Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss, suspending their lawyers' security clearances and restricting their access to government buildings. Similarly, in February, Trump suspended security clearances of lawyers at the Covington & Burling firm, citing the firms' past work for his political or legal opponents.
Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, told Reuters on March 22 that "President Trump is delivering on his promise to ensure the judicial system is no longer weaponized against the American people," but for Brian Tannebaum, a notable South Florida criminal defense attorney and ethics expert, Trump's latest moves are meant to do the complete opposite.
"He wants to sanction lawyers for doing their jobs," Tannebaum told the Miami Herald. "This is going to permeate the entire legal system," he added.
More than two months into his second presidential term, Trump and his administration have been hit with more than 100 lawsuits challenging executive orders or actions on a wide arrange of issues, including immigration. Legal advocacy groups such as the ACLU, along with at least 12 major law firms, have brought many of the cases, including the case involving the expulsion of alleged Venezuelan gang members.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
