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Scott Hicks

@mazeguide.bsky.social
1.1K followers 31 following 105 posts

Attorney in immigration law since 1995. Serving as an UMC Minister since 2007. Passionate about Justice as part of following Jesus. Plan to use this platform on immigration issues.

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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
I took down because it’s been up for years, not new. And it appears to be poor design not more.
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Matthew Hoppock @hoppock.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
So, I'm going to post through the updates issued by EOIR, the agency that manages our immigration courts, in the last week. Shortly after the inauguration, BIA member Sirce Owen was installed as the Acting Director and has since issued a series of memoranda. So, this is a thread about that. 1/
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Part 3 But it is simply legally incorrect to state it as if it is not a criminal offense. You are correct that being out of status is not a criminal offense. But I suspect most people not in my field would not realize the distinction. I am an immigration attorney with 30 years experience.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Part 2 This in fact is very poorly worded, at best. Illegal entry is in fact a criminal offense under 8 USC 1325a. It is a misdemeanor historically rarely prosecuted as federal prosecutors have traditionally had the view that the deportation/removal process adequately dealt with the matter.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
@hcrichardson.bsky.social You said While the Trump admin.. defends its sweeps by saying it considers anyone who has broken immigration law to be a criminal, being undocumented is in fact a civil offense, not a crime, and many of Trump’s supporters did not think he would make such general sweeps."
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
This bill is reported to have passed out of committee. TN making it a felony for elected officials to vote to make their locality a sanctuary area among the many gems in this one. www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bi...
capitol.tn.gov
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
As someone who has been in Immigration Courts since 1996, I have the benefit of historical perspective. Arresting people in Immigration Court is not new. I can’t remember if it was in Bush or Obama, but ICE would sometimes show up and take your client into custody at the end of the hearing.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
EOIR HQ (Immigration Court HQ) released memo today that rescinded the prohibition on ICE enforcement in and around Immigration Courts. Yep, they just green lighted arresting immigrants who appear for immigration court hearings.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Oklahoma education leaders approved a plan on Tuesday to request proof of citizenship or immigration status from families when they enroll their children in public schools. The rule would supply the Trump administration with information to aid immigration enforcement.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
www.cpr.org/2025/01/28/c...
cpr.org
Colorado military officials prepare for a massive immigration raid in Aurora — but crackdowns may already be underway across metro area
Officials with the U.S. Northern Command said that they started work Monday to prepare Buckley for use by Homeland Security as a temporary detention center.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Every ICE Field Office expected to arrest 75 people per day or face discipline. Arresting serious criminals takes time and planning. So to meet quotas guess who ICE will go after? Did you say not criminals?
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Cost for ICE to contract a private commercial flight- less than 10K Cost to use a military transport- 250K minimum So we could pay for at least 25 flights for the cost of one military transport flight.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Asking for asylum might ultimately not prevail. But if you have a genuine fear on statutory grounds, you at least get to fight it out in court and even if lose asylum might win withholding.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Two basic defenses 1. Prove (possibly on the spot) to the officer’s satisfaction in his sole discretion, two years of continuous presence for the prior two years. 2. Ask for asylum. (And remember if you don’t ask within 1 year of entry you are not eligible with narrow exceptions)
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
As I had expected, Expedited Removal is now nationwide. ACLU is suing. My opinion is that’s a loser suit. ER has been around for nearly 30 years and was challenged and upheld decades ago. So we are likely stuck with this for at least the next four years.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
We learned again that we allow idiots to vote who have a fanatical commitment to a stupid tradition and idea.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
From coloradoimmigrant.org
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
This is important for people to know. ICE warrants are rarely real warrants giving them the right to enter. www.ilrc.org/sites/defaul...
ilrc.org
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Matt Cameron @mattcameron.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
1/ As discussed on Friday's @openargs.bsky.social, ICE has always counted on well-meaning allies to handle a substantial portion of their psyops. Here's what you should know about ICE "raids," and how I suggest that you talk about them as things unfold
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Just in time for Texas and Trump thehill.com/regulation/c...
thehill.com
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Part 7 This bill accomplishes nothing the current law does not cover, imposes massive costs on ICE, and destroys the ability for the Federal government to execute the immigration laws. Congrats to the Rs and their useful idiots on the D side.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Part 6 This is a guaranteed way to essentially destroy any immigration legislation from Congress or Executive Regulations/actions and will turn it all over to the judiciary in cherry picked jurisdictions.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Part 5 Even worse, this law goes on to allow State and Local governments to challenge immigration laws they don’t like. Ironically, this will free up liberal States to have a field day with all the immigration laws Trump and the Rs want to push through.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Part 4 The charges were dismissed. But these kinds of things happen. This is why we insist on innocent until proven guilty. This law throws all that out and presumes guilt, contrary to our laws.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Part 3 My take on this. I just talked with a person this morning who confiscated their daughter’s phone because the daughter was inappropriate with it. She was mad and told her teacher her mom had beat her. ( she didn’t). But this person would have been mandatorily detained with no bond.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Part 2 My take on this. Instead, we are going to make it mandatory we detain people who are merely charged, not actually convicted. And we won’t allow bond. Even though the State Court would routinely allow an OR or fairly small cash bond in many cases.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
My take on this. Part 1 I don’t have a problem with detaining people illegally here, per se. That’s already an option under the law. But that’s also why this is so dumb. It’s already allowed under the law.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
If you ever wonder why immigration laws never get better and only harsher, well, look at the Laken Riley Act. Some Democrats going right along with it. So yeah, this is not a R issue. Ds are just as complicit in having terrible cruel and stupid laws on immigration.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
apnews.com/article/immi...
apnews.com
Immigration agency deports highest numbers since 2014, aided by more flights
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it deported more than 270,000 people over a recent 12-month period, the highest annual tally in a decade.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/...
nbcnews.com
Texas new mom deported after missed immigration hearing following emergency C-section, family attorney says
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that it was following an immigration judge's orders and that the parents decided the infants would go to Mexico with her.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
I didn’t really think the government would shut down this time. Maybe I underestimated the Rs. If it does shut down, so do Immigration Court hearings (other than detained cases). So I guess we will see if my January 8 trial is affected. I still can’t believe they would be that dumb.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
www.nbcnews.com/investigatio...
nbcnews.com
Trump plans to scrap policy restricting ICE arrests at churches, schools, hospitals
The long-standing policy has prevented ICE agents from arresting immigrants at so-called "sensitive locations" except under certain circumstances.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Friend of mine sent me this this morning. This is what is being circulated in Dayton, Ohio. This is what naturally flows from calls for mass deportation and demonization of immigrants.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
reuters.com
Trump says he aims to deport all immigrants in the US illegally
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump aims to deport all immigrants in the U.S. illegally over his four-year term but also wants a deal later to protect so-called "Dreamer" immigrants, he said in an interview that aired on Sunday on NBC News' “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.”
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
immigrationimpact.com/2024/12/06/w...
immigrationimpact.com
What Will Mass Deportations Look Like?
We explore who may be most likely to be targeted and the potential roadblocks to the Trump administration’s mass deportations next year.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
On a personal note. Went to Dr. today. Yep, a viral illness since last Wed. No way to confirm which virus. But have up to another week of muddling through. Good news, I’m not contagious. Bad news. Still fatigued.
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Kate Huddleston @khuddleston.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Homan at TX border today doubles down on threat to jail officials who try to halt mass deportations: “I’ve said 100 times in the last week, don’t cross that line. It is a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal. Anti-immigration authorities, don’t test us.” m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk_f...
m.youtube.com
Trump's border czar Tom Homan, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott full speeches during visit to border
YouTube video by WFAA
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/t...
texastribune.org
Texas offers Trump administration more land and support for mass deportations
Two events in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday made clear Texas officials will work with the Trump administration on immigration.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
The alternative to asylum is so difficult to meet the burden of proof, and the government fights you tooth and nail on it, that this rule is effectively a death sentence to most people who fled and came to seek safety here.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
So to anybody out there under the delusion that a Democrat President is good on immigration- a Democrat President effectively set up the legal framework to kill asylum for people trying to come to the U.S. via land.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Because of how restrictive it is, this is essentially a killing of asylum at the southern border. The rule was litigated and declared illegal, but a stay was issued and the 9CA still has not ruled on it some 19 months after it took effect. And likely the Supreme Court will take it up.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
So we are telling people to use a buggy app that will result in them trying to survive in Mexico for 7-12 months just waiting for an initial border interview.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
People using the app typically take 3-6 months to successfully schedule an interview. And because Biden meters the number of interviews, it takes another 4-7 months to actually get the interview.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
This rule says that if you do not use the CBP1 app, which is notoriously buggy, and come to an interview at the POE, you are not eligible for asylum unless you meet some very narrow exceptions.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
1/ Just spent time today prepping and uploading exhibits in a case set for trial Dec. 12. A case I have virtually no chance of winning. Why? Because Biden changed the rules on May 2023 to make most asylum seekers at the border ineligible.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
It seems incredibly odd to me that tomorrow we celebrate a holiday whose iconography is rooted in native born people welcoming and feeding immigrants, and yet we just elected a President who explicitly campaigned on a promise to carry out mass deportations.
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Scott Hicks @mazeguide.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Our clinic is also monthly. But we see the need to shift gears and concentrate more on helping people prepare for the what ifs.
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