By Juan Lucia
If you’ve been deciding whether or not to hire an immigration lawyer, you’ve probably already pondered a few questions. First, you need to understand that this profession is very specialized. The government is notorious for questioning everything; mistakes can count against you. When your attorney makes a mistake, you will likely think it was their fault. Therefore, you must hire someone qualified to give legal advice and be up-to-date with the law.
Lessons from COVID-19 for immigrants
Immigrants face numerous challenges, including access to health care. Often, temporary migrants have poor health coverage or cannot access social security benefits. Similarly, language barriers can make it difficult for immigrants to access health information. While many countries have created information portals and provide health information in multiple languages, reaching the most vulnerable remains challenging.
Governments can increase their reach by working with NGOs to develop specific communication campaigns for immigrants. These organizations can help national governments reach out to hard-to-reach and isolated immigrants. For example, in the case of COVID-19, the government of Denmark worked with the Danish Refugee Council to develop a website and phone hotline for migrants. Similarly, the Norwegian government made a large-scale social media campaign to inform migrants about the virus and access to public services.
Despite these challenges, immigrants are less likely to contract COVID-19 than native-born citizens. However, immigrants are also more likely to live in high-density neighborhoods. This may increase their risk of transmission. Additionally, many immigrants use public transportation, which can be risky during a pandemic.
Increased demand for immigration lawyers under the Trump administration
With the increased weight of immigration issues, immigration attorneys see an increased demand for their services. The Trump administration has been putting a significant focus on deporting undocumented adults and sending children to far-flung centers. The administration has also reorganized government agencies and changed immigration policies. In addition, the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, has limited immigration judges’ discretion to determine when a case is ready for a final decision.
The resulting immigration policy will add time and costs to businesses and make it difficult for them to plan. In addition, companies that rely on foreign labor will need help finding skilled employees. This will also impact their clients. The Republican Party campaigned to minimize government regulation, and the Trump administration’s new immigration policies are an example.
Although immigration numbers are declining overall, it remains an important question whether the administration’s policies have any lasting effects. While the Trump administration has focused on limiting immigration, it has been defined in its efforts to limit the number of legal immigrants. As a result, overall admissions decreased by a small amount during the Trump years, but this decline was in line with overall trends. The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant factor in the dramatic decrease in immigration numbers.
Burnout of immigration lawyers
Immigration attorneys report high-stress levels and burnout. The job demands can be overwhelming, and many attorneys say long hours and seven-day work weeks. In addition, ever-changing government policies are adding to their stress levels. Often, there needs to be more time for personal and mind-rebalancing activities. And deadlines seem to come faster than ever.
Because of these challenges, many immigration lawyers are stepping down or cutting back on their work. This problem is not new to the legal profession. It affects all types of lawyers, from border attorneys to those who work at law firms on Fifth Avenue. While burnout among immigration attorneys is not the same for all attorneys, it can be highly damaging to a career.
As a result of the Trump administration’s hostile policies toward immigrants, many immigration lawyers are re-evaluating their caseloads and whether to stay in the field. As a result, several attorneys have already announced that they are leaving the profession. Many have posted their plans on social media.
