We are delighted to welcome Marianne Staniunas, who is the Pro Bono Immigration Counsel at Ropes & Gray LLP. Marianne talks about the complexities of U.S. immigration law and how migrants have a right to legal representation, but not a right to free counsel. Given the shortage of immigration lawyers in the country, many asylum seekers face a complex system without representation. Marianne shares her fears at the start of a new administration with the criminalization of migrants and the ways their rights are being arbitrarily stripped from them. In spite of this, she continues to find hope in her clients, who offer inspiring examples of resilience.
Brian and Joe share stories that highlight the need for legal representation to navigate the immigration system. Brian tells the story of Felipe and Rebeka, who were recently deported to Mexico after getting stopped at a checkpoint on the way to Houston to get medical care for their 10-year-old daughter who had a brain tumor. Brian started sending texts to Marianne (today’s guest) to try to understand the situation and provide some orientation to the family. Joe weighs in on the complexities of U.S. asylum law through two examples. Alejandro was a soldier in Venezuela and a member of the ruling party who refused an order to fire upon fellow countrymen, which brought threats to him and his family. Dolores witnessed the murder of her sister by the cartel and feared for her life, especially after she reported the case to the local police and did not receive any protection. These two cases might sound like obvious asylum claims, but Joe reflects on how narrow interpretations of asylum can lead to denials in cases like Alejandro and Dolores, especially if they do not have legal representation to help argue their cases.