On Thursday, January 26, 2017 AALAM, along with other affinity bar associations, proudly voted to support and endorse the MBA's new Resolution on Immigration, which reaffirmed the bar's commitment to vigorously defend the rule of law and fundamental constitutional protections related to the detention and deportation of residents of Massachusetts, and endorse actions by the federal government that ensure equal justice and due process in enforcement of any immigration policies and legislation. 

Actions endorsed include: (1) prohibiting any discriminatory immigration-related law enforcement practices, (2) precluding the use of any database established or maintained by any governmental entity to identify and locate undocumented immigrants for any detention and deportation program unrelated to protecting national security, (3) establishing, in collaboration with the Massachusetts legal community, an effective system that ensures free legal representation for all immigrants facing removal (deportation) proceedings who are unable to afford an attorney, and (4) comprehensive immigration reform legislation that provides for legal status and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants with strong ties to the United States, who do not pose a national security or public safety risk, among others. 

AALAM thanks the MBA for its leadership in passing this resolution, and is committed to working with the MBA and the other affinity bars to ensure that all immigrants have access to justice.