Tulsa County Sheriff policy regarding attorney use of interpreters

The Tulsa County Jail interpreter policy was obtained through an open records request.

Please note that in March 2009, the Tulsa County Sheriff started not allowing immigration lawyers to bring their multi-lingual staff into the David L. Moss Detention Center. This detention facility contracts with ICE to hold most of the immigration detainees in Oklahoma.

The policy was not reduced to written form until requested by me from the Tulsa County Sheriff.

The District Court of Tulsa County has an interpreter program to certify interpreters for court proceedings. Attorney visits are not court proceedings. This policy of the Tulsa County Sheriff denies immigration detainees their right access to their attorneys and their right of access to justice. Imagine if you were arrested in a foreign land and not allowed to visit with your lawyer in a language you could understand.

ICE has been notified of this policy since March 2009 but has taken no action despite it impacting the ability of attorneys to effectively represent their detained clients in immigration proceedings.

Cases of note

August 2015

Child born in foreign country. US citizen father used a false ID for foreign birth. Father failed to register birth at US consulate. Child brought to USA by father. Child is now an adult. Adult child came to my office to obtain permanent residence through husband. I suggested the adult child file for a Certificate of Citizenship as she had a good-faith argument for being a US citizen. USCIS agreed. Application approved.

Citizen of Guatemala provisional waiver application approved.

November 2014

With her mom deported, child was left with her aunt. Aunt desperately tried to reunite child with her mom but mom missing in Mexico. Guardianship obtained for aunt. Permanent resident application filed. RESULT: Child is now a permanent resident.

Mother and children given intent to deny letters as they were not eligible to adjust status because the father was a Lawful Permanent Resident. Solution: Naturalization application for dad filed by our firm. USCIS agreed to delay green card cases for father's case to be adjudicated. Father passed exam and became a US citizen. Mom and all the minor children became permanent residents. The children under 18 became US citizens upon application with the youngest taking her citizenship oath this month.

October 2014

On a second appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals remanded case to Immigration Court involving detainee denied the opportunity to request relief that arose while his first appeal was pending. Order for the immigrant on all issues.

Obtained dismissals from Immigration Court in cases involving unaccompanied children so the children can file with USCIS to obtain lawful permanent residence.

September 2014

Grant of permanent residency by an Immigration Judge under INA sec. 245(i) after over four years of the matter being contested in Immigration Court.

The adult child of a Lawful Permanent Resident had waited since 1993 for her visa to be current. Unfortunately, in 1997, she had left the USA on a voluntary return after being arrested for working without authorization. Seven other immigration law firms said her green card application would be denied. RESULT: GRANTED.

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Cases of note

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