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Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Attorney Hillary Walsh's Vision for Helping 1 Million Undocumented Immigrants
In a small courtroom in Phoenix, Arizona, a woman named Carla, bruised emotionally and silenced by fear, sat gripping a manila folder of documents she barely understood. Her U.S. citizen husband had weaponized her immigration status for years, telling her, "You'll be deported before they believe you." He beat her, berated her, and warned her that if she ever left, she'd lose her children. But across from her sat Hillary Walsh, wearing a blazer that didn't quite hide the fire in her voice. "You don't need to keep suffering to stay in this country," Walsh told her. That day, Carla began her application under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)—a rare and powerful form of protection that grants immigration status to abuse survivors. For Walsh, it was another day of dismantling cages built not just by abusers, but by the complex web of U.S. immigration law. For Carla, it was a step toward freedom. From Kansas to the Supreme Court Born in small-town Kansas, Hillary Walsh doesn't look like the typical face of immigration reform—and that's precisely the point. She's a mother of four, a former law professor, a TEDx speaker, and a military spouse. Her journey from flyover state roots to representing clients before the U.S. Supreme Court is not just improbable; it's instructive. It underscores her approach to advocacy: relentless, unapologetically hopeful, and unconcerned with precedent when people's lives are at stake. In 2019, she founded New Frontier Immigration Law , a fully remote firm long before the pandemic normalized Zoom courtrooms. From the start, Walsh had a radical idea: that an immigration law practice could be both high-performing and deeply humane. "We're not just trying to win cases," she says. "We're trying to rewrite how people view the undocumented—especially those who've been dehumanized or abused." The 1 Million Mission At the core of New Frontier's operation is an audacious goal: to help one million people gain immigration documents. So far, the firm has served over 4,000 clients, primarily undocumented individuals trapped in the legal shadows of American life. The strategy to scale isn't just about hiring more attorneys. Walsh's team is building out from Phoenix and Dallas to cities like Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. But the firm's engine runs on more than geography—it runs on empathy, digital strategy, and innovation. Their website, , is more than a digital business card. It's a trauma-informed portal with bilingual content, quizzes to assess eligibility, and a 4.8-star rating from over 1,000 reviews. Potential clients—many of whom don't realize they qualify for relief—are guided gently into clarity. Behind this success lies Walsh's specialty: T visas and VAWA cases. These protections, reserved for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, are legal lifelines often underutilized due to fear, shame, or ignorance of their existence. "These aren't just applications," Walsh explains. "They're acts of resistance. When someone like Maria, a trafficking survivor, walks out of court with a work permit and a future—she's defying every system that told her she was invisible." Data, Demand, and Disruption The U.S. immigration legal services industry is projected to reach over $3.2 billion by 2033, driven largely by increased demand from the country's 47.8 million immigrants. Yet, even as the market grows, so do its gaps—especially for undocumented people who aren't sure the law was ever meant for them. Roughly 80% of those in need of immigration help begin their search online. With keyword searches like "immigration lawyer near me" spiking in cities like Phoenix, New York, and Los Angeles, the fight for visibility is fierce. But New Frontier's content-forward, client-centered strategy has allowed it to dominate where others merely post and hope. And it's not just about SEO. Walsh has launched a first-of-its-kind legal assistant training program for humanitarian immigration cases. She runs a podcast, Immigration Law Made Easy, and co-hosts Let's Get Rich, a values-driven show with her husband, a recently retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. Innovation, for Walsh, isn't a buzzword; it's how she cracked an industry that told her a non-Spanish-speaking immigration lawyer wouldn't survive. Her team now serves a majority Spanish-speaking clientele with a staff that's majority women, many of whom are LGBTQ+ or Hispanic. More Than Just a Firm There is something distinctly narrative about how Walsh runs New Frontier. Clients are not treated as files; they are stories, waiting to be heard and told. "We ask people what freedom would mean to them," she says. "Sometimes, it's not about work permits or green cards. Sometimes it's a mother finally feeling safe enough to call the police if something goes wrong. That's what we fight for." Through the New Frontier Foundation, her nonprofit, Walsh extends support to survivors via therapy and recovery resources. The firm also trains its 100+ staff to operate with what they call the "I. L.I.V.E." framework—Inspiration, Legacy, Innovation, Vested, and Excellence. It's culture-building as advocacy. The System and the Soul U.S. immigration law is not just complex - it's chaotic, by design. And in that chaos, people disappear. But Hillary Walsh is determined to find them. Like Bryan Stevenson in Just Mercy, she aims not only to win legal victories but to shift national consciousness. Her TED Talk, which exposes how immigration law enables domestic violence, is one piece of a broader campaign to humanize the undocumented. "We've built a system that punishes people for surviving," she says. "My mission is to change that story." One million lives changed. One case at a time.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Harvard Graduate Self-Deports to Mexico
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Harvard graduate has self-deported to Mexico alongside his husband amid fears about President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Why It Matters Trump pledged to deport millions of immigrants without legal status as part of his campaign message. The Trump administration announced it will pay undocumented immigrants to self-deport rather than await arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Those without legal status could be paid as much as $1,000 if they use the CBP Home app to leave the country. What To Know Francisco Hernandez-Corona, 34, and his United States citizen husband, Irving Hernandez-Corona, decided to leave the country because the federal government ramped up immigration enforcement, NBC10 Boston reported. The couple traveled to Mexico's west coast, arriving in Puerto Vallarta three weeks ago. "We started seeing ICE everywhere and people sent to El Salvador," said Francisco. "There would be knocks at the door and [Francisco] would be scared and be terrified," said Irving. "It was never our intention to leave under these circumstances. We left, basically fleeing." Francisco came to the U.S. when he was 10, sent by his father to cross the border with the help of a coyote. He described the journey through the desert as "the worst three days of my life," adding, "Nobody asked me if this is what I want to do. I didn't have a choice." Migrants walk into Tijuana, Mexico after being deported from the United States on January 21, 2025. Migrants walk into Tijuana, Mexico after being deported from the United States on January 21, 2025. Felix Marquez/AP Francisco's mother passed away from a rare disease several months before his high school graduation. Following her death, his younger sister moved to Texas to live with their older sister, while Francisco remained in their hometown. His teachers provided support, helping him complete high school and pursue higher education at an Ivy League university. He earned a degree in clinical psychology from Harvard University, graduating in 2013 Following his graduation, Francisco sought legal protection through immigration programs. He initially applied for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) during the Obama administration. Later, he pursued a visa under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which is available to victims of domestic abuse, citing the violence he and his mother experienced from his father. However, due to significant delays in visa processing and complications arising from his two instances of unauthorized entry into the U.S.—once as a child traveling with his mother on a tourist visa and crossing the border at age 10—Francisco faced legal barriers that included a potential permanent ban from reentering the country. "Because of the choice my dad made when I was a child, U.S. law says it doesn't matter. I don't care that you were 10, I don't care if you were bleeding in the desert, or crying in the desert alone. I don't care that you didn't choose this; you can no longer stay in a place that you call home," said Francisco. After marrying Irving last year, Francisco hoped his immigration status could be resolved. However, he was informed that a permanent bar prevented him from adjusting his status within the U.S. and that he would need to leave the country. Legal advisers recommended canceling their honeymoon plans to Puerto Rico due to concerns that Francisco could be detained. Faced with these challenges, the couple decided to voluntarily leave the U.S. Francisco told his husband, "Then, I guess we have to leave," feeling there was little reason for them to remain. What People Are Saying Francisco Hernandez-Corona told NBC 10 Boston: "I made it. This little brown boy from Lennox is going to Harvard. That's crazy." Irving Hernandez-Corona told NBC 10 Boston: "It's such a hateful place, a hateful environment." What Happens Next Francisco expressed hope that one day he would be able to return to the United States, start a family with Irving, and eventually send their children to Harvard. The Trump administration has maintained that those who self-deport have a chance to return to the country legally.
NBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Undocumented Harvard grad from Los Angeles self-deports to Mexico
Despite his undocumented status, Francisco Hernandez-Corona, 34, and his U.S. citizen husband, Irving Hernandez-Corona, never thought they would leave the United States. But the new administration changed all that when it came in in January, according to the couple. 'We started seeing ICE everywhere and people sent to El Salvador,' said Francisco. 'There would be knocks at the door and he (Francisco) would be scared and be terrified,' said Irving. 'It was never our intention to leave under these circumstances. We left, basically fleeing.' They fled to Mexico's west coast, flying into Puerto Vallarta three weeks ago, where they say they finally felt safe and wanted. '(Mexicans) all were saying, 'Welcome back home! You belong here,'' said Francisco. The warm welcome was greatly appreciated, but they still felt sad leaving behind their family in the United States. 'We still sit here in silence sometimes, hold each other and cry because of what we left,' said Irving. 'We felt pushed out.' The couple had just celebrated a milestone -- married last fall after three years of dating. Francisco graduated from Harvard, where he studied clinical psychology and graduated in 2013. It had not been an easy road to get there. When he was only 10 years old, Francisco's father arranged for him to cross into the U.S. through the desert with a 'coyote,' or migrant smuggler. "The worst three days of my life, I remember every moment walking through the desert,' he said. 'Nobody asked me if this is what I want to do. I didn't have a choice.' His family settled in Lennox, a small city near the airport in Los Angeles. Francisco excelled in school and was accepted to Harvard in 2009. Around that time, he was hit with another challenge. 'My mom died my senior year of high school,' said mother lost her battle with a rare disease just months before he graduated. His younger sister moved to live with his older, adult sister in Texas, but Francisco stayed and was taken in by his teachers, who saw him through graduation and into an Ivy League education. 'I made it. This little, brown boy from Lennox is going to Harvard, that's crazy,' Francisco said. In 2012, he applied for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, under President Obama, which does not grant legal immigration status but allows young undocumented immigrants who qualify to live and work in the U.S. He later didn't renew DACA since he filed for a Violence Against Women (VAWA) visa; he and his mom were victims of abuse by his dad, he said, adding his parents had divorced. But Francisco said processing of the VAWA visas have been delayed by more than a decade. And because he technically re-entered the country illegally when he was forced to cross the border at 10 — his mom had brought him on a tourist visa when he was 6 and she had overstayed their visit — Francisco was told he'd be barred from returning to the U.S. 'Because of the choice my dad made when I was a child, U.S. law says it doesn't matter. I don't care that you were 10, I don't care if you were bleeding in the desert, or crying in the desert alone. I don't care that you didn't choose this; you can no longer stay in a place that you call home,' said Francisco. After marrying Irving last year, he thought there might be a way to fix his status but his attorneys instead recommended they cancel their honeymoon to Puerto Rico, fearing Francisco might be detained at some point. That's when the couple decided to self-deport. 'That's when I looked at him and said, 'Then, I guess we have to leave,'' said Francisco. 'There isn't any reason for us to stay here.' 'It's such a hateful place, a hateful environment,' said Irving. Now living in Mexico, they are trying to figure out the next steps and are grateful to still be working remote jobs from the U.S. Francisco hopes to visit the Mexican grave where his mother was interred after she died in Los Angeles. He has never seen it in person, but worries that he will feel guilt that he failed to fulfill his dying mother's wish. 'She said, 'I will die here so that you and your sisters could have a better life, so that you and your sisters could have the life that I've never had,'' he said.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Time of India
Indian national found guilty in US for faking abuse claim to get immigration benefit
An Indian national has been convicted in the US for submitting a fraudulent immigration application under the Violence Against Women Act ( VAWA ), following an investigation that involved assistance from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ). #Operation Sindoor India responds to Pak's ceasefire violation; All that happened India-Pakistan ceasefire reactions: Who said what Punjab's hopes for normalcy dimmed by fresh violations Nasir Hussain was found guilty and sentenced to time already served for making a false material statement in support of an I-360 VAWA self-petition. The development was announced by the US Attorney's Office in Vermont. Court documents and trial evidence showed that Hussain traveled to Connecticut in October 2021 to enter a marriage with a US citizen for immigration purposes. He never met the woman before or after the wedding. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo To create the appearance of a real marriage, Hussain purchased insurance policies, magazine subscriptions, and ordered products in his wife's name, all addressed to his residence in Orlando, Florida. He later visited a medical clinic and falsely claimed that he had been abused by his wife. These claims, along with the manufactured evidence, were submitted to USCIS to support his VAWA petition. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Testimonies presented in court, including those from the woman and former roommates, confirmed that the woman never lived in Florida. This directly contradicted Hussain's claims that he had been abused while living with her in Orlando. Live Events If his application had been accepted, Hussain could have received a VAWA visa and potentially gained lawful permanent residency in the US. Hussain has been in federal custody since May 2023 in connection with a separate wire fraud conspiracy case. Although a jury found him guilty in October 2024, the court later overturned the verdict. The US government has filed an appeal, which is currently pending. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from USCIS.
Business Mayor
06-05-2025
- Business Mayor
USCIS Assists in Investigation Leading to Conviction of Indian Citizen for Submitting Fraudulent Immigration Application
BURLINGTON, Vt. – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided valuable assistance to the investigation that led to the conviction of an Indian citizen for submitting a fraudulent immigration application. The U.S Attorney's Office in Vermont announced the conviction and sentencing of Nasir Hussain for submitting a false statement of material fact on an immigration application, specifically an I-360 Violence Against Women Act ('VAWA') self-petition. Immediately following his conviction at trial, Hussain was sentenced to time-served. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Hussain traveled to Connecticut in October of 2021 for the purpose of entering a sham marriage to a U.S. citizen. Hussain never saw the woman prior to or after the date of the wedding. Hussain then paid for insurance policies in the name of his 'wife,' subscribed to magazines in her name, and ordered merchandise in her name, all to manufacture evidence that Hussain and his 'wife' were living together at his Orlando residence. After manufacturing this evidence, Hussain went to an urgent care facility, and falsely claimed he was abused by his 'wife.' Hussain submitted the manufactured evidence and medical records to USCIS in support of an I-360 VAWA self-petition, claiming he was the spouse of an abusive U.S. citizen with whom he had been living in an Orlando apartment. Evidence at trial, including testimony of his 'wife' and former roommates, established beyond a reasonable doubt that Hussain's 'wife' never lived in Florida, and therefore could never have abused him as he alleged. Had Hussain's immigration petition been successful, he would have been awarded a VAWA visa and potentially lawful permanent residence status in the United States. Hussain has been in federal custody since his arrest in May of 2023 on a wire fraud conspiracy charge. The wire fraud case went to trial in October 2024, resulted in a jury verdict of guilty, which was subsequently set aside by the court via a judgment of acquittal. The United States has entered a notice of appeal of the judgment of acquittal that remains pending. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable support provided by USCIS. To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn. READ SOURCE
