Lawyers seeking social change experience firsthand the significant overlap between criminal and immigration law. Today, a young criminal defense attorney will represent noncitizens charged with criminal offenses; determining immigration consequences for these offenses is a complex endeavor. That same lawyer may also confront mass prosecutions for immigration violations that force her to make immediate decisions about seeking release on bond, litigate motion practice, and enter into a plea agreement. If that lawyer chooses to work at an immigrant rights organization, she will likely advocate for limits on information sharing between criminal and immigration law enforcement agencies. The young lawyer will also develop immigration relief campaigns that require crafting a media strategy to support the campaign or choosing who to exclude from the benefits of any immigration relief legislation.

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