Grossman Young & Hammond, LLC

While this week's election results will have transformative impacts in numerous areas of American life, few, if any, areas of policy will be more deeply impacted than our immigration system. At Grossman Young & Hammond, LLC, one of America’s leading immigration law firms (where I am proud to serve as Of Counsel), we have long been preparing for this potential outcome, and are uniquely positioned to provide expert immigration advice to businesses and individuals alike. If you want to better understand how you - or your relative, friend, business, etc. - can navigate what the next four years may bring, I invite you to be in touch. Now is the time to make sure that you are prepared, and to ensure that you have the right team to guide you. https://lnkd.in/eAxfbD9F

I was delighted to have had the opportunity today to represent Grossman Young & Hammond, LLC while presenting to international students on post-graduate immigration options at UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS). Big thanks to Amber Reinhart for facilitating - engaging with such bright minds is always inspiring! After the session, I took some time to enjoy a breathtaking sunset at La Jolla Shores (that even featured a handful of dolphins!) —hard to imagine a more perfect way to end the day🌅Grateful for moments like these that combine learning and nature!

⚠️ Interesting article where we learn, between the lines, that facing too many denials from INTERPOL’s Notice and Diffusion Task Force (NDTF) and non-compliance decisions from the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF), Belarus is now reportedly “developing an algorithm for interdepartmental co-operation to ensure the rights of victims in criminal cases to appeal against decisions of INTERPOL bodies to refuse to declare accused persons wanted internationally or to unreasonably delete information about such persons from the information system” (sic). While there is little data on this new initiative, it raises concerns. As a reminder, if a Notice or Diffusion is denied or deleted due to non-compliance with Article 2 (protecting human rights) or Article 3 (prohibiting political, military, religious, or racial involvement) of the INTERPOL Constitution, no further cooperation is allowed on the case through INTERPOL channels. This restriction also applies when the CCF concludes that a case does not comply with INTERPOL’s rules; in such cases, all National Central Bureaus (NCBs) are informed that further cooperation on the case through INTERPOL channels would be in violation of INTERPOL’s rules. While a decision by the NDTF to deny a Notice or Diffusion, or by the CCF to delete a Notice / Diffusion, has no impact on the validity of criminal proceedings in the requesting country and doesn’t prevent international cooperation using channels outside of INTERPOL, the creation of such mechanisms raises strong concerns—as it could be seen as a way to push back against INTERPOL’s compliance framework. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dZt7FXcb

On October 30th, Sandra Grossman spoke at Renew Democracy Initiative’s Frontlines of Freedom Conference, a gathering of dissidents, advocates, and allies working to fight transnational repression in all its forms. Sandra was honored to speak alongside Sarah McLaughlin, Natalie Gonnella-Platts, Kristen Leanderson Abrams, discussing real-world instances of dictators bringing their autocratic politics to open societies. GYH was a proud sponsor of this impactful event. We look forward to future conferences and further collaboration with RDI! #transnationalrepression #fofcon #humanrights #internationalhumanrights #humanrightslaw #immigrationlaw #grossmanyoung

American citizens sometimes take for granted that the right to vote is privilege not granted to all people. In just days, Mohamed Abubakr, President of The African Middle Eastern Leadership (AMEL) Project and beloved GYH client, will vote for the first time. Having been a citizen of Sudan, where free elections have never taken place, Mohamed often dreamed of being able to vote. He has seen firsthand the human cost that comes from silencing people’s voices. That’s why it is so painful when he sees Americans, disillusioned by partisan divisions, dismiss the value of voting altogether. He writes: “When we vote the world watches. The reverberations of our choices shake and shape the globe... When we cast our ballots we should think of the billions who look to America as a standard for what democracy ought to be... For me, and for so many others, a vote is a sacred act, a beacon of hope. And so should it be for all of us.” Your vote is bigger than you and it DOES matter. Be sure to exercise your democratic freedom next week by voting!! https://lnkd.in/eK3EkNTg #vote #govote #democracy #humanrights

On Tuesday, October 29th, GYH Managing Partner Sandra Grossman and Of Counsels Ted R. Bromund and Charlie Magri testified at briefing before the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the “U.S. Helsinki Commission”) on the topic of authoritarian abuse of INTERPOL. In 2021, the Helsinki Commission led the introduction and passage of the Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention (TRAP) Act to tackle authoritarian abuse of INTERPOL. The law required the executive branch to file periodic reports on its efforts to stem this abuse by enacting domestic safeguards and promoting reforms at INTERPOL headquarters. This briefing evaluated the current state of politically motivated abuses of INTERPOL, U.S. efforts to implement the TRAP Act three years after passage, and prospects for further action to address INTERPOL abuse. View a full recording here: https://lnkd.in/e5BVTZyN #INTERPOL #transnationalrepression #humanrights #humanrightslaw #internationalprotection #internationalhumanrights

Tomorrow I will be joining fellow speakers, Charlie Magri and Ted R. Bromund, to brief the bi-partisan U.S. Helsinki Commission on autocratic abuse of INTERPOL and Red Notices. I will discuss how U.S. agencies are sometimes unwittingly furthering autocratic abuse of Red Notices for people with connections to the United States. Please tune in and share with your networks. #StopInterpolabuse #humanrights

Dictatorships are a serious threat to global freedom and democracy. Join the Renew Democracy Initiative's Frontlines of Freedom Conference (FOFCON), where dissidents, thought leaders, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and advocates will gather to share resources, strategies, and insights in the fight against authoritarianism. Managing Partner Sandra Grossman is speaking on a panel that explores real case studies of dictators bringing their autocratic tactics to open societies. If you believe in freedom over fascism, don’t miss out—tickets are still available for Day 2 on October 30! Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/e3rG3KFq #fofcon #fofcon24 #freedomoverfascism #transnationalrepression

GYH’s founding partners are serious dog people, and we are a whole firm of animal lovers! A few weeks ago we attended DC’s most adorable gala, the Bark Ball! Bark Ball is an annual event hosted by the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) to celebrate animals and to garner support for HRA’s meaningful work. GYH was honored to mingle with the best dressed dogs in DC. We are proud to support the Humane Rescue Alliance and hope to see you at next year’s Bark Ball! #barkball

📢 GYH Partner Sandra Grossman and Counsels Charlie Magri and Ted R. Bromund are testifying before the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe about authoritarian abuse of INTERPOL, a global threat to justice. INTERPOL was created to protect global security, but some authoritarian regimes are exploiting it to persecute dissidents, journalists, and activists far beyond their borders. Through politically motivated INTERPOL notices, they manipulate the system to detain or extradite their opponents, violating INTERPOL's mission. Three years after the TRAP Act was passed by Congress to combat this abuse, the panel will assess where we stand in the fight against authoritarian interference in INTERPOL. 📅 Date: October 29, 2024 | 2:00pm ET | Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2118 | Live Stream Available 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e_wnjE-J #HumanRights #INTERPOL #TRAPAct #StopAuthoritarianism #TransnationalRepression #InterpolAbuse #rednotice #InternationalProtection #GrossmanYoung