FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Alicja Johnson
Communications Manager
media@ayuda.com
Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2025) – Ayuda rejects the Trump Administration’s memo that unjustly targets immigration attorneys and law firms under the guise of upholding professional ethics and national security. Released Saturday, the memo’s language, tone, and underlying assumptions represent a dangerous politicization of the legal profession and an alarming threat to the rule of law.
“The baseless insinuations that immigration attorneys regularly coach clients to commit fraud or pursue ‘meritless’ claims not only misrepresent the reality of asylum law and legal advocacy but also incite public distrust and potential violence toward members of the legal community,” said Ayuda’s Associate Director of Legal Programs, Anuscè Sanai. “To single out one attorney, name private law firms, and broadly condemn an entire sector of the legal profession for alleged political motivation undermines the independence of the judiciary, the integrity of the attorney-client relationship, and the fundamental right to legal representation—a cornerstone of American democracy.
“Immigration attorneys play a vital role in ensuring that the United States upholds its laws, values, and international obligations,” Sanai continued. “They advocate for individuals fleeing persecution, violence, and hardship. To characterize this work as inherently fraudulent or dangerous is not only factually incorrect, but morally reprehensible.”
Like all attorneys, immigration lawyers take an oath to uphold the Constitution. The assertion that they are regularly acting in bad faith lacks evidentiary basis and grossly mischaracterizes the commitment of these professionals to lawful, fact-driven advocacy on behalf of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Ayuda strongly condemns the politicized use of disciplinary mechanisms to punish dissent or advocacy against federal policies. We affirm our full support for the legal professionals on our team and beyond who courageously defend the rights of immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees under increasingly hostile conditions.
We call on all branches of government to reject fear-based narratives and instead uphold the constitutional principles that protect access to justice for all—regardless of background, nationality, or political belief.
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About Ayuda:
Ayuda provides direct legal, social, and language access services to low-income immigrants in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Since 1973, Ayuda has served more than 150,000 immigrants throughout the region. Ayuda is the only nonprofit service provider in the area that provides a wide range of immigration and family law assistance, social services, and language access support for all immigrants – including women, men, and children – from anywhere in the world. Visit www.ayuda.com to learn more.
