MEDIA ADVISORY
February 9, 2022
Contact:
Assefash Makonnen, African Communities Together, assefash@africans.us
Alex Aronson, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, aa2595@georgetown.edu
Lisa Cooms, Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP, lcooms@fklaw.com
VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON COURT TOSSING OUT TRUMP-ERA “PASSPORT RULE” FOR DIVERSITY VISA APPLICANTS
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM EST, join African Communities Together, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) at Georgetown University Law Center, Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman, LLP, and plaintiffs in the Diversity Visa lawsuit, E.B. v. Department of State, for a virtual press conference discussing the recent federal court ruling vacating the Trump-era “passport rule”.
Since its inception in 2019, the “passport rule” has resulted in a worldwide drop of DV applications from 14.7 million in 2018 to 6.7 million in 2019. The rule required applicants to possess a valid passport just to enter the lottery for a chance to receive a visa to immigrate to the United States through the DV Program. This effectively foreclosed the program to low-income people from countries where passports are expensive or difficult to obtain. On Friday, February 4, 2022, the court held that the government did not follow public notice and comment procedures required by federal law before enacting the rule, and rejected the government’s claim that immigration regulations are exempt because they implicate “foreign affairs.”
WHAT: Diversity Visa Passport Rule Press Conference
WHEN: Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 11:00 AM EST
WHERE: Virtual Press Conference
WHO: Amaha Kassa, African Communities Together
Anil Vassanji, Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman, LLP
Anonymous Plaintiff (A.K)
Seth Wayne, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) at
Georgetown University Law Center
Please register for the virtual press conference here: https://fgh.zoom.us/webinar/
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African Communities Together
African Communities Together is an organization of African immigrants fighting for civil rights, opportunity, and a better life for African families in the U.S. and worldwide. ACT connects African immigrants to critical services, helps Africans develop as leaders, and organizes African immigrant communities on the issues that matter.
Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @AfricansUS
Website: www.africans.us
Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection
The mission of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) is to use strategic legal advocacy to defend constitutional rights and values, while working to restore confidence in the integrity of our governmental institutions. A non-partisan institute within Georgetown University Law Center, ICAP’s experienced attorneys use novel litigation tools, strategic policy development, and the constitutional scholarship of Georgetown to vindicate individuals’ rights and protect our democratic processes.
Twitter: @GeorgetownICAP
Website: www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/
Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP
Friedman Kaplan is a boutique law firm headquartered in New York, NY that focuses on cutting-edge, complex, and high-stakes matters, often involving issues of first impression. Founded in 1986, the firm strives to consistently produce results for our clients that are exceptional both in their effectiveness and their efficiency. From small matters to groundbreaking work on some of the highest-profile disputes of the last three decades, Friedman Kaplan leverages the exceptional analytical abilities, experience, and tenacity of our attorneys to help its clients meet and surpass their goals. Friedman Kaplan also has a long and deep-rooted commitment to pro bono work, and is proud to work alongside its community partners.
Website: www.fklaw.com