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37th Annual

Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law

Austin Oct 24-25, 2013 AT&T Conference Center
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Overview

UT Law’s Conference on Immigration and Nationality Law is ideal for practitioners of all experience levels and offers an opportunity to meet with and learn from nationally-recognized experts, as well as to interact with colleagues.

This year's program focuses on the latest developments of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, dissects the anatomy of a removal case from start to finish, and provides a complete evidentiary road map in a 2-part fundamentals to advanced evidence series. Gregory Siskind and AILA representative Anu Joshi lead a special presentation—The Process, Politics and Prospects of Immigration Reform in the 113th Congress.

Come a day early for Wednesday's Fundamentals of Immigration and Nationality Law—ideal for new entrance to the field or as a refresher for experienced practitioners—provides an overview of U.S. immigration laws, the basics of family immigration law practice and removal proceedings, offers 1.25 hours ethics credit with a discussion on the issues new practitioners face in managing an immigration practice, plus a Welcome Reception.

Save $25 and earn up to 20.50 hours of credit including 3.50 hours ethics when you register for both!

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Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 October 24, 2013
  • Day 2 October 25, 2013
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, Oct. 24, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez, Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C. - Dallas, TX
  • 7:30 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:25 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:30 am
    1.00 hr
    Hot Topics in Employer Sanctions/Compliance and Removal
    A review of the newest of the new—a sneak peek at the hot-button issues including Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Removal.

    Richard S. Fischer, The Law Offices of Richard S. Fischer - Nacogdoches, TX
    Jodi M. Goodwin, Law Office of Jodi Goodwin - Harlingen, TX

  • 9:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Naturalization on the Whole
    The ever-changing world of immigration and naturalization law.

    Francisco J. García, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston - Galveston, TX
    Clarissa Guajardo, Attorney at Law - Houston, TX

  • 10:15 am
    Break

  • 10:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Are You/Are You Not a U.S. Citizen? Derivative Citizenship
    Oftentimes, clients come to your office regarding their immigration options, not knowing that they may be United States citizens. Clients also come to your office having been told all their lives that they are United States citizens, but are now being denied U.S. passports. This session explores the various means of proving citizenship, acquired and derived, as well as how to respond to Department of State allegations against United States citizens.

    Olsa Alikaj-Cano, FosterQuan, LLP - Houston, TX
    Nathaniel R. Martinez, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. - Houston, TX

  • 11:15 am
    1.00 hr
    Evidence 101: Standards, Burdens, How-to Proof, FOIA/TRIP/SAVE
    An evidence road map, including formulating a theory of the case, administrative and judicial notice, and building an evidentiary record for possible review of constitutional claims over which the Immigration Court lacks jurisdiction.

    Brian K. Bates, Reina Bates Immigration Law Group - Houston, TX
    Elisabeth S. "Lisa" Brodyaga, Refugio del Rio Grande - San Benito, TX

  • 12:15 pm
    Pick Up Lunch
    Included in registration.

  • Thursday Afternoon, Oct. 24, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Edna Yang, American Gateways - Austin, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:30 pm
    0.75 hr
    The Process, Politics and Prospects of Immigration Reform in the 113th Congress
    For the last ten months, Washington, DC, has been teeming with news of immigration reform, but what does it all mean? More important, what can you do about it? A look at the process, politics and prospects of immigration reform in the 113th Congress.

    Anu Joshi, American Immigration Lawyers Association - Washington, DC
    Gregory Siskind, Siskind Susser - Memphis, TN

  • 1:15 pm
    Break

  • 1:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Rules of Evidence in Removal Proceedings
    Advanced coverage of the various facets of evidence, types of evidence and general admissibility issues.

    Simon M. Azar-Farr, Attorney at Law - San Antonio, TX
    Imran B. Mirza, Law Office of Imran Beg Mirza - Houston, TX

  • 2:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Family-Sponsored Immigration
    A focus on basic concepts in family-based immigration such as who can file for whom and when, using old priority dates, the definition of “child,” cross-chargeability, the Child Status Protection Act, the Adam Walsh Act, affidavit of support requirements, widows and battered spouses/children.

    Janet B. Beck, University of Houston Law Center - Houston, TX
    Sarah Zoller Brown, Miley & Brown, P.C. - Dallas, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    Break

  • 3:45 pm
    1.00 hr
    0.50 hr ethics
    Anatomy of a Removal Case
    Immigration law experts, including a recently retired immigration court judge and former Assistant Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, examine the mechanics of removal proceedings from initiation of proceedings through the bond process, all the way to the removability phase of the case. Gain insight on presenting the best case possible—from legal strategy to practical considerations.

    Moderator:
    Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez, Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C. - Dallas, TX
    Panelists:
    Hon. Jimmie L. Benton, Gill & Benton - Houston, TX
    Joel R. Gonzalez, Cote & Gonzalez PLLC - San Antonio, TX
    Jodi M. Goodwin, Law Office of Jodi Goodwin - Harlingen, TX

  • 4:45 pm
    1.00 hr
    U/T/VAWA/SIJ
    An in-depth review of immigration remedies for vulnerable populations and crime victims, including U Visas, T Visas, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) Status.

    Wafa Abdul Rauof Abdin, Catholic Charities - Houston, TX
    Elise Thompson Harriger, Casa Marianella Immigration Legal Services - Austin, TX

  • 5:45 pm
    0.25 hr ethics
    Pro Bono
    A pro bono practitioner and client briefly talk about their experiences as they relate to the value and benefits of pro bono representation. Get inspired to share your time and expertise with nonprofit immigration programs in Texas.

    Paul Trahan, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP - Austin, TX
    Wael Samir Abdelaty, Pro Bono Client - Austin, TX

  • 6:00 pm
    PRO BONO MIXER
    Enjoy refreshments and a networking opportunity with colleagues, conference faculty and pro bono organization representatives.

  • 6:00 pm
    Adjourn to Mixer

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Oct. 25, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Jacqueline L. Watson, Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C. - Austin, TX
  • 7:30 am
    Conference Room Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:30 am
    1.00 hr
    Hot Topics in Immigration Reform and Family Immigration Law
    The latest developments in immigration reform efforts, including an examination of some of the biggest issues included in the Senate immigration reform bill—SB 744—and what the House’s options are moving forward, an exploration of Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, and what it all means for family-based immigration.

    Anu Joshi, American Immigration Lawyers Association - Washington, DC
    Carl M. Shusterman, Law Offices of Carl Shusterman - Los Angeles, CA

  • 9:30 am
    0.75 hr
    AOS Versus Consular Processing
    Advantages of adjustment of status, inspected and admitted or paroled, 245(1), approvable when filed, adjustment strategies, various consular procedures, and provisional waivers.

    Harry Gee Jr., Harry Gee, Jr. & Associates, PLLC - Houston, TX
    Mona Gupta, Gupta & Wiora, P.C. - Dallas, TX

  • 10:15 am
    Break

  • 10:30 am
    1.00 hr
    0.50 hr ethics
    Waivers of Inadmissibility
    An overview of immigrant visa waivers of inadmissibility, including the stateside unlawful presence waiver, and a general look at non-immigrant visa waivers. Get practical tips as well as an understanding of the law.

    Magali S. Candler, FosterQuan, LLP - Houston, TX
    Jason C. Mills, Law Office of Jason Mills - Fort Worth, TX

  • 11:30 am
    1.00 hr
    0.50 hr ethics
    Crimmigration
    Experienced "crimmigration" practitioners review the latest developments regarding immigration consequences of criminal convictions, including a Supreme Court case law update, a practical application of the modified categorical approach, and ethical considerations when advising non-citizens on plea agreements.

    Moderator:
    Jacqueline L. Watson, Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C. - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Carlos M. García, García & García, Attorneys at Law P.L.L.C. - McAllen, TX
    César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, University of Denver Sturm College of Law - Denver, CO

  • 12:30 pm
    Pick Up Lunch
    Included in registration.

  • Friday Afternoon, Oct. 25, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Cristina Zambrano, Zambrano Law Office - Austin, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    State and Local Anti-Immigrant Laws: Update on the Fight Against Patchwork Immigration Enforcement
    Nationally-recognized civil rights attorney Nina Perales, lead attorney in Reyes v. City of Farmers Branch, discusses recent developments in the fight against anti-immigrant local ordinances and state laws.

    Nina Perales, Vice President of Litigation, MALDEF - San Antonio, TX

  • 1:30 pm
    Break

  • 1:45 pm
    1.00 hr
    What the H? What the L? What You Need to Know about Non-Immigrant Visas
    What is the best option when your client qualifies for several different work visas—H-1B professional worker, L-1 intracompany transferee, TN NAFTA professional worker or E Treaty Investor/Trader? Hear the practical, legal and processing challenges of each of these visas.

    Judy J. Lee, FosterQuan, LLP - Houston, TX
    Susan K. McConn, FosterQuan, LLP - Houston, TX

  • 2:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    PERM Building Blocks: The Basics
    An overview of what it takes to build a PERM case on solid ground, including practice-specific examples and how-tos concerning the "blocks" of a PERM case.

    Rebecca R. Massiatte, Jackson Lewis LLP - Dallas, TX
    Paige L. Taylor, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    Break

  • 3:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Work Site Enforcement: The New World of I-9s and E-Verify
    Conflicting agency interpretations of the new I-9 coupled with increasing E-verify usage causes employer headaches. Learn how to manage verification and work site compliance challenges and how to negotiate with the enforcement agencies.

    Richard A. Gump Jr., Attorney at Law - Dallas, TX
    Kathleen Campbell Walker, Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated - El Paso, TX

  • 4:30 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Ask the Experts
    An interactive opportunity to have top immigration lawyers answer your questions. Please submit your questions in advance to service@utcle.org or onsite at the conference registration desk.

    Moderator:
    Eugene J. Flynn, Eugene J. Flynn, P.C. - Dallas, TX

  • 5:15 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 October 24, 2013
  • Day 2 October 25, 2013
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Wael Samir Abdelaty

Pro Bono Client
Austin, TX

Wafa Abdul Rauof Abdin

Catholic Charities
Houston, TX

Olsa Alikaj-Cano

FosterQuan, LLP
Houston, TX

Simon M. Azar-Farr

Attorney at Law
San Antonio, TX

Brian K. Bates

Reina Bates Immigration Law Group
Houston, TX

Janet B. Beck

University of Houston Law Center
Houston, TX

Hon. Jimmie L. Benton

Gill & Benton
Houston, TX

Elisabeth S. "Lisa" Brodyaga

Refugio del Rio Grande
San Benito, TX

Sarah Zoller Brown

Miley & Brown, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Magali S. Candler

FosterQuan, LLP
Houston, TX

Richard S. Fischer

The Law Offices of Richard S. Fischer
Nacogdoches, TX

Eugene J. Flynn

Eugene J. Flynn, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Carlos M. García

García & García, Attorneys at Law P.L.L.C.
McAllen, TX

Francisco J. García

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Galveston, TX

César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández

University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Denver, CO

Harry Gee Jr.

Harry Gee, Jr. & Associates, PLLC
Houston, TX

Joel R. Gonzalez

Cote & Gonzalez PLLC
San Antonio, TX

Jodi M. Goodwin

Law Office of Jodi Goodwin
Harlingen, TX

Clarissa Guajardo

Attorney at Law
Houston, TX

Richard A. Gump Jr.

Attorney at Law
Dallas, TX

Mona Gupta

Gupta & Wiora, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Elise Thompson Harriger

Casa Marianella Immigration Legal Services
Austin, TX

Anu Joshi

American Immigration Lawyers Association
Washington, DC

Judy J. Lee

FosterQuan, LLP
Houston, TX

Nathaniel R. Martinez

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Houston, TX

Rebecca R. Massiatte

Jackson Lewis LLP
Dallas, TX

Susan K. McConn

FosterQuan, LLP
Houston, TX

Jason C. Mills

Law Office of Jason Mills
Fort Worth, TX

Imran B. Mirza

Law Office of Imran Beg Mirza
Houston, TX

Nina Perales

Vice President of Litigation, MALDEF
San Antonio, TX

Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez

Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Carl M. Shusterman

Law Offices of Carl Shusterman
Los Angeles, CA

Gregory Siskind

Siskind Susser
Memphis, TN

Paige L. Taylor

Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP
Dallas, TX

Paul Trahan

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Austin, TX

Kathleen Campbell Walker

Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated
El Paso, TX

Jacqueline L. Watson

Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C.
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Michelle L. Saenz-Rodriguez—Co-Chair

Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Jacqueline L. Watson—Co-Chair

Law Office of Thomas Esparza, Jr., P.C.
Austin, TX

M. Elizabeth "Liz" Cedillo-Pereira

Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo, PLLC
Dallas, TX

Eugene J. Flynn

Eugene J. Flynn, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Francisco J. García

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Galveston, TX

Harry Gee Jr.

Harry Gee, Jr. & Associates, PLLC
Houston, TX

Jodi M. Goodwin

Law Office of Jodi Goodwin
Harlingen, TX

Richard A. Gump Jr.

Attorney at Law
Dallas, TX

Mona Gupta

Gupta & Wiora, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Harry J. Joe

Jackson Lewis LLP
Dallas, TX

Judy J. Lee

FosterQuan, LLP
Houston, TX

Anne D. Monahan

Law Office of Anne D. Monahan
San Antonio, TX

Paul Parsons

Paul Parsons, PC
Austin, TX

George Rodriguez

Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Anuj A. Shah

Law Office of Anuj A. Shah
Houston, TX

Nancy Taylor Shivers

Shivers & Shivers
San Antonio, TX

Vanna Slaughter

Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc.
Dallas, TX

Michelle M. Turner

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Kathleen Campbell Walker

Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated
El Paso, TX

Peter D. Williamson

Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry
Houston, TX

Sarah E. Woelk

Casa Marianella Immigration Legal Services
Austin, TX

Edna Yang

American Gateways
Austin, TX

Cristina Zambrano

Zambrano Law Office
Austin, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 16.25 hrs  |  2.25 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Immigration and Nationality Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number  provided on your certificate of attendance.
Toggle view California – 16.25 hrs  |  2.25 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov.  UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  
Toggle view Louisiana – 20.50 hrs  |  3.50 hrs Ethics
At the completion of the conference you must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Supreme Court of Louisiana Continuing Legal Education Committee within 30 days after the conference. 
Toggle view Oklahoma – 19.50 hrs  |  2.50 hrs Ethics
You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.
Other Credit
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 19.50 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Austin – Oct 24-25, 2013 – AT&T Conference Center
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Individual
Last day for $435.00 Regular pricing: Oct 18, 2013

$485.00 for registrations received after this time

Group 10% (5-9) (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $390.00 Regular pricing: Oct 18, 2013

$440.00 for registrations received after this time

Group 20% (10+) (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $350.00 Regular pricing: Oct 18, 2013

$400.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Oct 18, 2013

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Oct 21, 2013

Venue

speaker

AT&T Conference Center

The University of Texas at Austin
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX
877.744.8822 (reservations)
Map

Accommodations

$174.00 good through Oct 16, 2013
Reserve your room online.

Parking Information

Free daily self-parking at UT garages. Separate fees apply for valet and overnight parking.

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