Skip to main content

2.0

President issues memoranda targeting immigration lawyers with sanctions for alleged misconduct

  1. Original Date Announced

    March 22, 2025

    President Trump issued a memorandum instructing the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to enforce attorney conduct rules, with an emphasis on Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 3.1 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. These regulations prohibit unethical practices, including the filing of frivolous lawsuits. The directive calls for sanctions in such cases, particularly those impacting national security, public safety, or elections, and requires disciplinary measures against attorneys who violate these standards. It also mandates a review of past legal actions for potential misconduct and accuses the immigration bar and law firms' pro bono legal practices of coaching asylum applicants to mislead immigration authorities and courts into granting unwarranted relief harming national security.

    [Trump 2.0 ID #1640]

    2025.03.22 Presidential Memo on Preventing the Abuses of the Legal System and Federal Court
  2. Effective Date

    March 22, 2025
  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action

    August 6, 2025

    2025.08.01 Motion for Sanctions - Xiong v. Albarran

    The DOJ filed a motion to seek monetary sanctions against a California immigration lawyer who sought to block his client's deportation. The DOJ argued that the attorney falsely claimed his client's deportation was under the Alien Enemies Act, despite being told it was based on a removal order issued under the INA. The DOJ claims that the attorney "persisted in making frivolous arguments" to stall his client's removal and asks the court to "impose sanctions to deter [the attorney] from continuing to multiply baseless proceedings." Xiong v. Albarran, No. 1:25-cv-00026 (D. Guam).

    **Link to case here. Our litigation entries generally report only the initial complaint and any major substantive filings or decisions. For additional information, CourtListener provides access to PACER and all available pleadings. Other sites that track litigation in more detail or organize cases by topic include Civil Rights Clearinghouse, Justice Action Center, National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and Just Security**

    View Document

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Presidential Orders
Subject Matter: Hearings and Adjudications
Agencies Affected: DHS DOJ

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com