With the creation of a new Denaturalization Section at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), an increase in DOJ’s prosecution of denaturalization cases is expected. It is, therefore, very important for immigration practitioners to understand the denaturalization process and become versed in potential defenses and strategies. Simply relying on the fact that the government must meet a high burden of proof when attempting to revoke an individual’s naturalization by civil proceedings, or as a result of a criminal conviction for naturalization fraud, is not enough. Our expert panelists will provide historical and legal background, practical tips, litigation strategies, and potential defenses to both civil denaturalization and denaturalization in the criminal conviction context.

Featured Topics

• How and Where Are Denaturalization Proceedings Initiated?
• Legal Grounds, Procedural Prerequisites, and Process for Denaturalizing a U.S. Citizen Who Has the Burden of Proof? How High Is That Burden?
• What Potential Defenses Are There to Denaturalization? What Can You Achieve Via Discovery?
• Updates Regarding Operation Janus, Operation Second Look, and the Denaturalization Section of DOJ
• The Effects of COVID-19 on Denaturalization Cases

CLE Credit

Eligible participants can receive up to 1.8 CLE credit hours. AILA will administer CLE credit only to individuals who register and log into the web seminar. AILA cannot verify your attendance and participation in this program unless you register directly for the web seminar and use your name to log in to participate in the program. Therefore, persons who log in or listen in on the web seminar as part of a group will not be able to obtain CLE credit.

Please note that your jurisdiction may limit the amount of distance learning credit you can earn. To view details on your jurisdiction's credit restrictions and CLE requirements, visit the CLE Center.

AILA has filed for CLE and specialized credit in all jurisdictions with mandatory CLE requirements. For details about specific approvals, contact us at cle@aila.org.

• AILA applies for accreditation upon attorneys’ request after participation for the following states: AR, DE, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, ME, MN, MS, OR, TN and WY. Programs are typically approved.
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• The OnDemand Recording format does not qualify for CLE credit in the following jurisdictions: MO and PR. Please note that your jurisdiction may limit OnDemand credit based on the date of the original presentation. View the OnDemand Downloadable Expiration Chart for more details.

To receive CLE credit, attorneys must record web seminar attendance and the CLE code provided within one week of the web seminar date via webCLE.

Contact us at cle@aila.org or visit AILA’s Web Seminar Recordings page for more information.

About the Faculty

Anis N. Saleh (DL), Miami, FL
Anis N. Saleh is President of the Miami firm of Saleh & Associates, P.A. Mr. Saleh is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and Florida Super Lawyers. Mr. Saleh is Florida Bar Board Certified in Immigration Law and is a past-President of AILA’s South Florida Chapter. He is also past-Chair of the Florida Bar’s Immigration Certification Committee

David W. Leopold, AILA Past President, Cleveland, OH
David W. Leopold Partner and Group Leader of Ulmer’s Immigration Law Group, and Past President and GC of AILA, counsels domestic and foreign businesses, health care institutions, law firms, religious institutions, nonprofits, and other entities on U.S. immigration, visa, and citizenship law. Serving as a “go-to” analyst of immigration issues for major media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more, David regularly handles high-profile, politically charged matters that draw national attention.

Kathrin S. Mautino, San Diego, CA
Kathrin S. Mautino is certified as a specialist in immigration and nationality law by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization, one of fewer than 200 attorneys in the state presently designated. A cum laude graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, Ms. Mautino is the managing partner of Kathrin S. Mautino APLC, a San Diego firm. Ms. Mautino is a recognized expert in American citizenship law.

Christopher W. Dempsey, Former Chief, National Security & Affirmative Litigation Unit, OIL, DOJ, Jacksonville, FL
Christopher W. Dempsey served with DOJ in Washington, D.C. for over a decade, where he supervised all national security litigation by an office of over 75 attorneys and led a Unit conducting immigration-related, affirmative and defensive litigation in district courts and courts of appeal across the nation, with an emphasis on denaturalization cases. Mr. Dempsey regularly trained Department attorneys in Washington, D.C. and the National Advocacy Center, and instructed law enforcement officers throughout the U.S. Mr. Dempsey now owns and operates Dempsey Law, PLLC, a multijurisdictional immigration law practice.

The speaker's/author's views do not necessarily represent the views of AILA, nor do they constitute legal advice or representation. Practice tips provided are based on the speaker's/author's experiences and the current state of the law. Please be sure to conduct legal research and analysis for your unique situation as the law changes quickly and experiences may differ from your own.