“It is very ethical and moral for an attorney to advise people as to their rights under the law. Often, the only ones who can protect the people against the power and abuses of the state and society are well-meaning lawyers,” Laguatan told Variety.
The California-based immigration lawyer who has a successful practice in the San Francisco Bay area acknowledges that he would lose money, time, and effort in setting up an office on Saipan and in training junior lawyers and paralegals representing people with very limited means.
But Laguatan said his assistance was sought by a Filipino-American friend in the CNMI on behalf of nonresidents who may lose immigration status after Nov. 27 when their umbrella permits expire.
“Some may not know nor appreciate this and even accuse me of making money off them or accuse me of other ulterior motives. I also face the prospect of getting the ire and resentment of locals including politicians who want foreign workers deported,” he said.
Asked if he is giving “false hopes,” Laguatan replied: “Immigration relief is based on an individual’s fact situation and the applicable law. If, for example, a foreign worker qualifies for certain immigration relief and certain defenses under applicable immigration laws because of having U.S. citizen relatives and/or other equities, why should this information be a false hope for the worker when it is true?”
Laguatan also doubts whether the U.S. government will be able to bring in a team of immigration judges to expedite mass deportations.
“On the mainland, immigration courts are backlogged for years. The Department of Homeland Security has in fact already announced that they will give priority to removing (deporting) criminal aliens — not peaceful people who just seek better lives and even contribute much to the community,” he said.
