I Am Attorney Jessica

This episode is recorded at the end of January 2023 in order to serve as a recap of the 2022 year in immigration law and policy in the United States as well as the developments so far in January 2023. 2022 marked the continuation of prosecutorial discretion  and the Uniting for Ukraine program by the Biden administration but was also marked by litigation attempting to bring down the prosecutorial discretion flexibility for ICE and USCIS officers and trial attorneys as well as further litigation by restrictionist immigration groups looking to bring down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) with a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in October 2022 partially affirming the denial by the district court of part of the 2012 program and a remand for a new decision on part of the case..  2023 saw the announcement of parole for Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans building upon a program for Ukrainians and later Venezuelans to be paroled in 2022. Jessica is joined by Miami based attorney Tamika Grace Judge of Jude Law  in Florida. In these episodes we discuss: Tamika's life and education in Dominica and her representation of clients from the Caribbean; Tamika's work with different populations especially and Haitians in particular; Tough cases Tamika and Jessica have handled and how they managed these legal issues; The intersection of the criminal justice and immigration systems and how those systems can be biased against certain people or groups: Tamika's experience in representing black immigrants in contrast to people of other backgrounds; The January 5, 2023 announcement by the Biden administration regarding parole mentioned above; the winding down of TItle 42 and the expanded use of expedited removal as well as the use of a new CBP app for phone/computer use required for all asylum applicants and parolees entering recently; The recommendations of Jessica and Tamika for best practices including not to rely on anecdotal advice from family members or neighbors. JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA, ATTORNEY (HOST)  Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an attorney, former law professor, expert witness and media commentator on all things immigration and human rights related. You can contact her practice in California at http://www.attorneyjessica.com or (559) 264-2500.  You can also follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram at I Am Attorney Jessica and send us an email with show suggestions or feedback at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com TAMIKA GRACE JUDE, ESQ. (GUEST)  Tamika Grace Jude, Esq. is an attorney licensed to practice in the state of New Jersey. (If you are located in another state, don't worry. Immigration law is Federal and Attorney Jude is able to practice Immigration Law in all 50 states.) Attorney Jude is an immigrant from the beautiful island of Dominica in the Caribbean. As an immigrant herself, she is very familiar with the immigration process. After completing her Associates Degrees at the Dominica State College, she attended the University of the Virgin Islands where she pursued two Bachelors Degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She was very passionate about immigration law and went on to Barry University-Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, where she graduated with her Jurist Doctor Degree and a Litigation Honors Certificate. Attorney Jude served as an Associate Editor for the Barry University Environmental Earth Law Journal, served within the Student Bar Association as a senator for all three years of law school, worked in the Immigration Clinic, was a member of the Trial Team and was on the executive board of multiple student organizations on campus including the Immigration Law society and is a member of Phi Alpha Delta. She was also the recipient of an immigration stipend from Barry University. While at law school she volunteered with a small law firm in Orlando Florida and participated in free naturalization clinics for the community. Since graduation, she served as a law clerk for an immigration firm in Vienna, Virginia. These experiences have equipped her with the knowledge necessary to be a successful immigration attorney. She has filed multiple petitions, represented clients in removal proceedings and prides herself on providing excellent customer service and always being available to her clients.   Tamika can be contacted at info@judelawoffice.com or at (305) 859-4519.  You can also follow her on Facebook at JudeLawllc.

This episode is recorded at the end of January 2023 in order to serve as a recap of the 2022 year in immigration law and policy in the United States as well as the developments so far in January 2023. 2022 marked the continuation of prosecutorial discretion  and the Uniting for Ukraine program by the Biden administration but was also marked by litigation attempting to bring down the prosecutorial discretion flexibility for ICE and USCIS officers and trial attorneys as well as further litigation by restrictionist immigration groups looking to bring down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) with a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in October 2022 partially affirming the denial by the district court of part of the 2012 program and a remand for a new decision on part of the case..  2023 saw the announcement of parole for Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans building upon a program for Ukrainians and later Venezuelans to be paroled in 2022. Jessica is joined by Miami based attorney Tamika Grace Judge of Jude Law  in Florida. In these episodes we discuss: Tamika's life and education in Dominica and her representation of clients from the Caribbean; Tamika's work with different populations especially and Haitians in particular; Tough cases Tamika and Jessica have handled and how they managed these legal issues; The intersection of the criminal justice and immigration systems and how those systems can be biased against certain people or groups: Tamika's experience in representing black immigrants in contrast to people of other backgrounds; The January 5, 2023 announcement by the Biden administration regarding parole mentioned above; the winding down of TItle 42 and the expanded use of expedited removal as well as the use of a new CBP app for phone/computer use required for all asylum applicants and parolees entering recently; The recommendations of Jessica and Tamika for best practices including not to rely on anecdotal advice from family members or neighbors. JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA, ATTORNEY (HOST)  Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an attorney, former law professor, expert witness and media commentator on all things immigration and human rights related. You can contact her practice in California at http://www.attorneyjessica.com or (559) 264-2500.  You can also follow the podcast on Facebook and Instagram at I Am Attorney Jessica and send us an email with show suggestions or feedback at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com TAMIKA GRACE JUDE, ESQ. (GUEST)  Tamika Grace Jude, Esq. is an attorney licensed to practice in the state of New Jersey. (If you are located in another state, don't worry. Immigration law is Federal and Attorney Jude is able to practice Immigration Law in all 50 states.) Attorney Jude is an immigrant from the beautiful island of Dominica in the Caribbean. As an immigrant herself, she is very familiar with the immigration process. After completing her Associates Degrees at the Dominica State College, she attended the University of the Virgin Islands where she pursued two Bachelors Degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She was very passionate about immigration law and went on to Barry University-Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, where she graduated with her Jurist Doctor Degree and a Litigation Honors Certificate. Attorney Jude served as an Associate Editor for the Barry University Environmental Earth Law Journal, served within the Student Bar Association as a senator for all three years of law school, worked in the Immigration Clinic, was a member of the Trial Team and was on the executive board of multiple student organizations on campus including the Immigration Law society and is a member of Phi Alpha Delta. She was also the recipient of an immigration stipend from Barry University. While at law school she volunteered with a small law firm in Orlando Florida and participated in free naturalization clinics for the community. Since graduation, she served as a law clerk for an immigration firm in Vienna, Virginia. These experiences have equipped her with the knowledge necessary to be a successful immigration attorney. She has filed multiple petitions, represented clients in removal proceedings and prides herself on providing excellent customer service and always being available to her clients.   Tamika can be contacted at info@judelawoffice.com or at (305) 859-4519.  You can also follow her on Facebook at JudeLawllc.

In November 2022 the FIFA World Cup commenced in Qatar.  From the start the games were controversial.  The location seemed ideal in many ways a clean modern locale.  However, the fun and games soon had a dark shadow cast over it as reports of slave labor used to build the necessary facilities to house the games and the tourists who came from around the globe to see them. The LGBTQIA plus record of the Qatari government involved forced disappearances and torture of gay and transgender people and an abysmal record overall.  Celebrities such as Shakira refused to perform or attend due to these issues.  Latin Music sensation Maluma ended an interview abruptly due to being questioned about whether it was ok to endorse a repressive country by attending and performing.  All in all there. were sparks flying and they were not all good.  In this episode immigration attorney Kime Abduli joins Jessica as well as Otra X Favor podcast hosts Ricardo Contreras Plaza and David  Hernandez who are die hard soccer fans whose podcast focuses on soccer, life and culture.  In this episode we discuss:   Kime's perspective as a Muslim American about the switches the Qatari government made to policies in the name of Islam after the games were scheduled to be held there; Richie and David's history as soccer fans and their development of their podcast Otra X Favor focused on culture, life and soccer.   The guests perspectives on the human rights issues that hung over the games in 2022; Looking towards the next World Cup and what the guests believe will occur when it is held in the US, Canada and Mexico in terms of human rights issues and protest; Jessica's explanation of recent human rights reporting on the Qatari government's abuses of LGBTQIA plus, labor and servitude as well as general human rights problems; How human rights and sports have been linked since the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City to Colin Kappernick taking ta knee to protest police brutality in more recent times; What the future of human rights and sports most likely holds for FIFA World Cup and other sports Finals predictions of the guests and Jessica  BIOGRAPHIES JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST) Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an attorney, former law professor, media commentator and host of the podcast.  She practices immigration law and has worked in various human rights and international organizations in the past prior to establishing her law practice. She can be reached at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com or I Am Attorney Jessica on Instagram or Facebook.   KIME ABDUILI (GUEST) Kime Abduli is an immigration attorney and regular on the I Am Attorney Jessica podcast.  Kime is a soccer fan and world traveler. Her own immigration story is compelling and she assists immigrants and refugees every day in her practice in Wisconsin. You can contact her through her firm website.  http://www.abduliimmigrationlaw.com RICARDO CONTRERAS PLAZA (GUEST) Ricardo is a photographer and podcast host of Otra X Favor podcast focused on soccer, life and culture.  Please check out Otra X Favor on Apple and Spotify. Ricardo is a proud recipient of the benefits of the DACA program.  You can also contact Ricardo or Richie through their podcast or at ricardo@otraxfavor.com.   JORGE MARTINEZ (GUEST) Jorge is the cohost of Otra X. Favor with Ricardo and a life long soccer fan.  Jorge's father owns a soccer store in the Austin, Texas area so soccer really was life for Jorge. Jorge can be reached at Jorge @otraxfavor.com.

Released on Thanksgiving Day, this episode honors the rights and memories of Native Americans of the United States, Canada and South America.  Jessica and Guillame McMartin discuss the significance of the holiday, the history of Native peoples in the Americas and other related topics.  In 2021, the New York Times reported that thousands of Native children vanished in Canada. Guillaume reveals more of the history of this human rights abuse and that the children were taken forcibly from in many cases loving homes and raised as white Canadians.  Many of these children were abused in various ways and some murdered.  There were similar residential school abuses of Native American children in the United States including many deaths.  In this episode we discuss: Guillaume's background as a French Canadian with some Scottish heritage who felt a calling to help Native American people and later learned he had Native roots on his father's side of the family; Guillaume's depression after living a life as a firefighter in an environment that involved bullying; What Jessica was taught in school about the history of Thanksgiving; The residential school system and the murdered children in the United States and Canada; What Guillaume learned from talking to native  peoples; Guillaume's journey about being closer to nature and some of his roots;Guillaume's efforts to assist native Canadian communities in economic development and how he got in wrong in his view the first time around; Guillaume's work in real estate development in New York and why he left that life; Negative portrayals of native peoples in media; Guillaume's book and his message to the world; Guillaume's plan to go on a journey of exploration on horseback to visit native communities from Canada to Guatemala; The attempts by US and Canadian governments to remedy past abuses; How the near extermination of native populations amounts to a crime against humanity and genocide under the International Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide which did not come into legal force until later after the Holocaust; Jessica's experience of being trolled online by pro Turkish government genocide deniers trying to usurp the cause of Native Americans for their own political ends; The influence on Guillame of the book "Live In the City of Dirty Water" by Clayton Thomas-Muller a native Cree man who led the charge for environmental justice against big oil intesrests (see link below to the book); The elements of forced assimilation and forced marriage imposed upon native peoples in North America: How non-native peoples and white Americans and Canadians can remedy the harm of the past and try to forge a new path forward. BIOGRAPHIES JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST)  Jessica Smith Bobadilla ("Attorney Jessica") is an immigration and human rights lawyer, media commentator and former law professor.  She can be reached at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com or I Am Attorney Jessica on Facebook or Instagram GUILLAUME McMARTIN (GUEST) Guillaume McMartin is an author, speaker and visionary CEO.  Guillaume has made it part of his life path to uncover abuses and bring to light the abuses against native Canadians and other native North Americans. Guillaume has authored a book:  The Messenger:  The Untold Journey available on Amazon. CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE (1948)  Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1948 The Contracting Parties, Having considered the declaration made by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 96 (I) dated 11 December 1946 that genocide is a crime under international law, contrary to the spirit and aims of the United Nations and condemned by the civilized world; Recognizing that at all periods of history genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity; and Being convinced that, in order to liberate mankind from such an odious scourge, international co-operation is required, Hereby agree as hereinafter provided: Article I The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish. Article II In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religions group, as such: (a)Killing members of the group; (b)Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c)Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d)Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e)Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Article III The following acts shall be punishable: (a)Genocide; (b)Conspiracy to commit genocide; (c)Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; (d)Attempt to commit genocide; (e)Complicity in genocide. Article IV Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals. Article V The Contracting Parties undertake to enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary legislation to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention and, in particular, to provide effective penalties for persons guilty of genocide or of any of the other acts enumerated in article III. Article VI Persons charged with genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III shall be tried by a competent tribunal of the State in the territory of which the act was committed, or by such international penal tribunal as may have jurisdiction with respect to those Contracting Parties which shall have accepted its jurisdiction. Article VII Genocide and the other acts enumerated in article III shall not be considered as political crimes for the purpose of extradition. The Contracting Parties pledge themselves in such cases to grant extradition in accordance with their laws and treaties in force. Article VIII Any Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III. Article IX Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the present Convention, including those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts enumerated in article III, shall be submitted to the International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to the dispute. Article X The present Convention, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall bear the date of 9 December 1948. Article XI The present Convention shall be open until 31 December 1949 for signature on behalf of any Member of the United Nations and of any non-member State to which an invitation to sign bas been addressed by the General Assembly. The present Convention shall be ratified, and the instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. After 1 January 1950 the present Convention may be acceded to on behalf of any Member of the United Nations and of any non-member State which bas received an invitation as aforesaid. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article XII Any Contracting Party may at any time, by notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, extend the application of the present Convention to all or any of the territories for the conduct of whose foreign relations that Contracting Party is responsible. Article XIII On the day when the first twenty instruments of ratification or accession have been deposited, the Secretary-General shall draw up a proces-verbal and transmit a copy thereof to each Member of the United Nations and to each of the non-member States contemplated in article XI. The present Convention shall come into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession. Any ratification or accession effected subsequent to the latter date shall become effective on the ninetieth day following the deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession. Article XIV The present Convention shall remain in effect for a period of ten years as from the date of its coming into force. It shall thereafter remain in force for successive periods of five years for such Contracting Parties as have not denounced it at least six months before the expiration of the current period. Denunciation shall be effected by a written notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article XV If, as a result of denunciations, the number of Parties to the present Convention should become less than sixteen, the Convention shall cease to be in force as from the date on which the last of these denunciations shall become effective. Article XVI A request for the revision of the present Convention may be made at any time by any Contracting Party by means of a notification in writing addressed to the Secretary-General. The General Assembly shall decide upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such request. Article XVII The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify all Members of the United Nations and the non-member States contemplated in article XI of the following: (a)Signatures, ratifications and accessions received in accordance with article XI; (b)Notifications received in accordance with article XII; (c)The date upon which the present Convention comes into force in accordance with article XIII; (d)Denunciations rec

In September 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a likely contender for the 2024 Republican presidential ticket flew migrants under the umbrella of a new program he started from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.  Martha's Vineyard, long a playground for the well-off in the Northeast was seen as a target by DeSantis and others who wanted to mock the "liberal elite" and their less than restrictive policies on immigration law and refugee rights. Joseph Lackey is an award winning Miami based immigration and criminal defense lawyer who was cited in an article about these events written by Marc Caputo and published on NBC News on September 19, 2022. In this episode we discuss; 1) Florida state politics and how Governor DeSantis fits into that landscape; 2) The hypocrisy  of not allowing sanctuary cities while supporting that state and local locales get to decide which refugees or immigrants can come or stay; 3) How Gov De Santis may be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2024; 4) The confusion among the population between the undocumented or those here "illegally" and asylum or refugee seekers like those at Martha's Vineyard; 5) The correction of those misconceptions by even some conservative pundits like Bill Kristol about the status of asylees and refugees or those seeking protection under those sections of US law; 6) What the US law requires to obtain asylum or refugee status; 7) What crimes Gov. De Santis could be charged with potentially under state and federal law for trafficking; 8) What relief apart from asylum in the form of U or T visas the asylees and refugees may be eligible for due to their being transported under false pretenses; 9) The dehumanization of migrants by the Republican parties loudest voices continues.  Who can take back the party? JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST) Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an immigration attorney, law professor and media commentator  with twenty years experience.  She can be reached through the podcast at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com or by visiting her lawfirm website at http://www.attorneyjessica.com. JOSEPH LACKEY (GUEST)  Joseph Lackey is an experienced immigration and criminal defense attorney in Miami, Florida.  He is a media commentator and has also lectured at conferences nationally and internationally on diverse topics. Joe was asked to comment on the Martha's Vineyard crisis in September for NBC News.  The article is linked below.  You can reach Joe through his practice website at http://www.josephlackey.com.   Article in Which Guest Joe Lackey is cited:  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/migrants-landed-marthas-vineyard-tricked-misleading-brochure-lawyers-s-rcna48390

In this episode Jessica and Aura Elena Martinez discuss topics related to empowerment and focus in life and existence.  Especially at this time women's rights have faced challenges and the impact on women's physical, mental and emotional health has been detrimental to their well being in nearly all cases.  Aura taps in to how to overcome tough times and situations and focus our lives and energy on the good things in life. She offers personal coaching and consulting services and is an accomplished public speaker for hire as well. Aura recently was the speaker at a TedX talk in the Bronk, which is her home area.  In this episode we discuss:   1) How Aura and her family overcame extreme adversity when her father became immobile in his 30's when Aura was a little girl; 2) What it was like for Aura growing up as the daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic in the Bronx, New York; 3) What Aura and her family learned from the tough times and how it built resilience within her for later life lessons; 4) Aura's experience with public speaking, coaching and related work; 5) Aura and Jessica's love of bachata music; 6) Aura and Jessica's views on racism and colorism in the United States as well as Latin America and the Caribbean; 7) Aura's plans for the future and how she believes women can heal themselves in these tough times  8) What a journey of self discovery can look like for people and why coaching is helpful in this process  BIOGRAPHIES JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST)  Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an attorney, media commentator, podcast host and has been cited in major media publications such as Forbes, the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and other major publications.  She has practiced immigration and human rights law for 20 years and her firm can be reached at http://www.attorneyjessica.com.  She can also be reached through at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com  AURA ELENA MARTINEZ (GUEST)  Aura E. Martinez is a Self-Discovery and Empowerment Coach, helping women gain total clarity in their purpose so they can wake up to a life of daily fulfillment and certainty. As a person who has traveled the world as a Flight Attendant, the opportunity has helped her learn and see so much and she discovered the most fabulous place for us all to see that is truly the key to greater well-being and she shares that with others worldwide.  Aura is the founder of Live to the Max™/Viva al máximo™, author of the book Creating a Lifetime of Wellness: Start Having the Life You Deserve. The book has been seen on Spirituality and Health magazine, Psychology Today and Natural Awakenings NYC.Aura E. Martinez is a Self-Discovery and Empowerment Coach, helping women gain total clarity in their purpose so they can wake up to a life of daily fulfillment and certainty. As a person who has traveled the world as a Flight Attendant, the opportunity has helped her learn and see so much and she discovered the most fabulous place for us all to see that is truly the key to greater well-being and she shares that with others worldwide. Aura is the founder of Live to the Max™/Viva al máximo™, author of the book Creating a Lifetime of Wellness: Start Having the Life You Deserve. The book has been seen on Spirituality and Health magazine, Psychology Today and Natural Awakenings NYC.  You can reach Aura through her website http://www.auraemartinez.com.

In June 2021 a young man who grew up in Northern California qualified in the World Championships in Oregon to run in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 1500 meters.  That young man was Luis Miguel Grijalva Morales.  What transpired between that Monday in June and the end of July was nothing short of history.  It was life altering for Luis, his attorney Attorney Jessica Smith Bobadilla (host) and people all over the world.  Luis was the first DACA Olympian and required an advance parole permit to travel to Tokyo and return safely to the United States.  The media attention Luis attracted and the significance to the DACA and DREAMER community was nothing short of extraordinary.  In addition, the precedent was set for emergency advance parole for non medical/humanitarian emergencies a process that usually takes upward of five months to obtain a DACA travel permit if filed through the normal channels.   In this episode we discuss: 1) How Luis and Jessica connected to make history as attorney and client; 2) Luis' history with the sport and his childhood and history as a runner; 3) Luis' love of the sport of track and field and what he feels it has contributed to his life; 4) The impact of the victory for Luis in the Olympics making it to the finals and setting records for Guatemalan and Central American runners; 5) Luis' recent victory as 4th fastest in the world in the 1500 meters in Oregon in July 2022; 6) Luis' recent trip to Europe in June and plans to head back to Europe again in late August provided he is granted another permit to travel for more races; 7) Jessica's love of jogging and running as stress relief, leisure and preventative medicine: 8) What the future holds for Luis as an athlete and what he does in his spare time; 9) The special place Guatemala holds in Luis' heart and the love he and Jessica have received from the Guatemalan community in the country and abroad; 9) The impact of all the attention on his career and the significance of the media attention for the case. BIOGRAPHIES JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST)  Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an attorney, podcast host, media commentator, former law professor and expert in immigration and human rights law and policy.  She is the attorney for today's guest, Luis Miguel Grijalva Morales and has represented immigrants and refugees from all over the United States in her 20 year career of practice in private firms, non-profits and law school teaching.  She can be reached through the podcast email at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com or on Facebook or Instagram at I Am Attorney Jessica.  Her law firm website is http://www.attorneyjessica.com. LUIS MIGUEL GRIJALVA MORALES (GUEST) Luis Miguel Grijalva Morales was born in Guatemala and arrived in the United States when he was one year old.  He learned at a young age that he had a gift for running.  Following the rollout of the DACA program Luis obtained a scholarship to attend Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona and joined the track team as part of his entry into university life.  Luis wants to expose others to track and field and running.  He recently took 4th place at the World Championships in Oregon in July 2022 following his ascension to the finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games held in August 2021.  Luis can be contacted through the podcast at iamattornyjessicapodcast.com or on Facebook and Instagram at I Am Attorney Jessica.

On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the addition of a new federal holiday to recognize Juneteenth. The Juneteenth holiday was commemorated in African-American communities throughout United States history.  However outside of black communities there were lots of questions following the President's announcement as to the meaning and significance of this holiday.  President Biden's announcement also followed the Senate unanimously passing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 15, 2021.  The holiday name derives from June and Nineteenth and is referred to as a portmanteau or a blend of words.  The holiday celebrates the Emancipation of slaves in states in rebellion against the Union on June 19, 1865 which is the date slaves in Texas were proclaimed free.Recent hot topics such as the detention and trial in Russia of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia on cannabis oil possession charges as well as the ongoing controversy related to the August 28, 1955 murder of 14 year old Emmett Till in Mississippi following charges that were later proved to be based on false and contradictory testimony.  The accuser Carolyn Bryant as well as the people who murdered Emmett have never been brought to justice.   Jessica is joined in this episode by her high school classmates and life long friends Dr. Natasha Greene and Margaux Johnson.  Dr. Natasha Greene works with the federal government and has provided mentorship and motivational/consulting services.  Margaux relocated following high school and now resides in Georgia where she has rose through the ranks in various companies in accounting and financial roles in a variety of companies requiring domestic and international travel. She is now a division controller and has over 15 years in the manufacturing industry.   Both Natasha and Margaux attended historically black universities. In this episode we discuss: 1) Dr. Natasha Greene's educational and career path; 2) Margaux's educational path and rise through the ranks in corporate America; 3) The high school experience Margaux, Natasha and Jessica had in high school at a magnet school with high rankings located in a historically black community in West Fresno; 4) Natasha and Margaux's experience attending historically black colleges and in Natasha's case graduate school at Howard University in Washington D.C.; 5) The significance of Juneteeth's recognition as a federal holiday o Natasha and Margaux as black women; 6) What Natasha and Margaux's families did to recognize the holiday long before it was a federal holiday; 7) The Allensworth community south of Fresno, California near Earlimart in Tulare County established exclusively by African-Americans in 1908; 8) The Brittney Griner prolonged detention and current trial in Russia on cannibis oil possession charges 9) Whether Brittney Griner's case was long ignored in mainstream media as a female athlete; 10 ) Whether Brittney Griner may be a political prisoner of the Putin regime in Russia; 11) The Emmett Till ongoing controversy. and the unserved warrant against his accuser whose story has changed substantially throughout the years since his death: 12) The significance for African-Americans and Americans in general that Emmett Till's murder and the related arguably shifting story by his accuser have both been met with impunity. 13) The impact of movements to silence the voices seeking to teach United States history from all perspectives without leaving out the accomplishments of African-Americans or erasing systemic and institutional realities that they faced throughout U.S. history. BIOGRAPHIES JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST) Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an immigration and human rights lawyer with 20 years experience.  She has also worked as a law professor and expert witness and served as an attorney, director and  board member for various immigration and human rights non-profit organizations.  She has also served as a media source and commentator.  Jessica can be contacted at iamattorneyjessicapodast@gmail.com.  Her law firm The Law Office of Jessica Smith Bobadilla has a website http://www.attorneyjessica.com that offers more information about the legal and consulting services she offers.   DR. NATASHA GREENE (GUEST) Dr. Natasha Greene, PhD is a California native by way of Chicago, and Colfax. Louisiana.  Natasha primarily grew up in Fresno, California where she attended Edison High School.  Natasha was a star athlete setting several track and field records and also excelled on the basketball court.  She also took first place in a debate and forensics competition as part of the Edison High School Debate and Forensics Team two years in a row. The competition took place in Los Angeles, California. Natasha was named student athlete of the year for the Central Valley one year and awarded the key to the city. She loves traveling in her spare time.  She has worked as a federal government employee and also is the owner of NAG Consulting where she can be booked as a speaker for motivational, diversity and equal opportunity and other purposes.  She offers mentoring, motivational and other consultancy services through NAG Consulting and can be reached at http://www.natashagreene.com or 1-800-647-5043.  She was awarded in 2016 the second highest honor a federal employee can receive.  Natasha was in the first class at Howard University to receive her PhD in Atmospheric Sciences paving the way for other scholars, particularly other black female scientists.  Part of her graduate work was funded by NASA.  Her research has been widely cited since publication.   MARGAUX JOHNSON (GUEST) Margaux Johnson is a native of Fresno, California. She is a Controller for a company in the manufacturing industry in the state of Georgia.  Margaux has two smart and beautiful daughters and often shares humorous content about raising teenagers on social media. Margaux has rose through the ranks in various companies and her roles have required domestic and international travel to Germany and Malaysia among other locations. Margaux's family was very active in the black community of Fresno, California and her parents owned a private day school focused on African-American history and culture in West Fresno.  Margaux loves travel in her spare time and spending time with  family and finding great clothes and shoes at a great price .  She can be reached by emailing the podcast at  iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com.

On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health.  The decision was met with a flood of protests nationwide leading to arrests in some cases of protestors.  The decision ended an era where women had a constitutionally protected right to seek an abortion enshrined in the Roe v. Wade decision announced by the Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade (USSCT, 1973).  The overturn of Roe v. Wade was a wake up call to progressives and those on the left that the Trump area policies and appointments were now a reality and continued to shape U.S. law and policy long after President Trump departed the White House.  In this episode we discuss with James Williams a community activist and organizer and registered nurse the impact of this decision legally, socially and politically and where the left and progressives including women’s rights advocates go from here.  In this episode we discuss: 1) James’ path to becoming an RN and his concerns about the Dobbs decision in light of 20 years of nursing experience 2) James’ family history and path towards becoming a Democratic party organizer and leader 3) James’ and Jessica’s thoughts on the Dobbs decision in terms of women’s health and rights in the United States 4) The political factors and forces that led to the appointments to the Supreme Court that allowed Roe v Wade to be overturned in 2022 after almost 50 years as settled law 5) Justice Thomas’ reference to unborn fetuses tested for COVID19 vaccines  in another decision on the heels of Dobbs decision in a statement deemed to be untrue 6) Where do the left, women’s rights advocates and progressives go from here?  7) What are the areas of most concern in the United States in light of the decision such as the high rates of black maternal mortality  8) Whether the same justices who voted to overturn Roe are coming after all substantive due process rights 9) What we can hope for in the future and how those who disagree combat this decision and others to come like it.   BIOGRAPHIES  JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA  (HOST)  Jessica is the host of the I Am Attorney Jessica: Migration and Human Rights For All.  She has 20 years experience as an attorney and expert witness as well as her time as a law professor.  She can be reached at iamattorneyjessicapodcasat@gmail.com.  Her website is http://www.attorneyjessica.com. JAMES WILLIAMS (GUEST)  James Williams is a Registered Nurse with over two decades of experience in the healthcare field.  He has worked on single payer healthcare issues for the last 19 years. Growing up on military bases shaped his views of the world and especially those on issues such as war and foreign policy. He currently is the longest continuously serving member of the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee with 15 years of time. He has been a member of the California Democratic Party during this time and has worked in various capacities there.  He served one term as a representative to the state party’s executive board.  He served six terms as a member of the state party’s Voter Services standing committee. He also served as Parliamentarian for the Progressive Caucus of the state party. In addition to this he served two terms as an officer of the California Democratic Council. In 2010 James was named volunteer of the year for his efforts in turning Fresno County to a Democratic registration advantage.  In less than four years thirty-three thousand new Democratic voters were added to the rolls in accomplishing this. In 2009 James was instrumental in bringing the Democracy for America Campaign Academy to Fresno where approximately five dozen activist were trained on how to run campaigns. In 2008 he worked as the local data manager for the Obama campaign. Currently he is President of the San Joaquin Valley Democratic club. The club calls itself the hardest working Democratic club in Frenso Co. and the Progressive voice of the Democratic party. Since its inception James has served in an advisory role for the California Latina Democratic club. His latest project is working with people in Tulare County to educate them on using voter registration tools and turning that county to a Democratic advantage also.  You can contact James by reaching the podcast.

On May 24, 2022 a lone gunman entered Robb Elementary school in Uvalde Texas and killed 2 teachers and 19 students.  A few days later the spouse of one of the two teachers also died of a heart attack leaving behind 4 orphaned children.  This was not the first mass shooting in recent history.  Weeks before on May 14, 2022, ten people were killed in Buffalo. New York while grocery shopping.  The deceased were all African-American  the perpetrator was later found to have written racist messages on the actual firearm used in the crime erasing all doubt of his intent to kill black people while espousing an idea  called “” great replacement theory”an idea that there is a leftist conspiracy to open the Southern border sot that white Americans will eventually be replaced and outnumbered by people of color who will vote presumably according to the proponents for Democratic candidates and policies.  Just a month before, a mass shooting occurred on the Subway in Brooklyn, New York injured 29 New Yorkers after a lone gunman opened fire on crowded train.  There was also a church shooting of an Asian American congregation in Southern California in May 2022.  The school shooting in Uvalde took us back to Sandy Hook, Columbine and the other incidents triggered memories of other mass shooting all to frequent in our history.  The United States is the outlier in this area having more mass shootings than any other country in the world.   In this episode Professor John O’Connor, constitutional law professor and podcast host and Attorney Jessica discuss the following: • What does the second amendment to the US constitution require? • What does Professor O’Connor think the major interpretations to the second amendment involve? • What is the difference between textualism and originalism with respect to the US Constitution? • What is a “living Constitution? • Would a new amendment be possible to change the second amendment? • Discussion of the relevant Supreme Court case law in the Heller v. District of Columbia, 554 U.S. 570 (2008) and McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 U.S. 572 (2010) that have shaped where we are today • How much regulation is constitutionally permissible? • How is the new makeup of the Supreme Court likely to influence a decision on gun control? • Will the Supreme Court take up a gun control case again soon? • What are the policy reasons that might make a new look at this fundamental right to bear arms  worth examining with new perspectives? • What does Professor O’Connor think of the arming of teachers and other related proposals to prevent school shootings? • What type of online link is there to mass shootings? Should social media do better to spot these type of posts? • What are the human rights issues surrounding gun policy and gun control   Jessica Smith Bobadilla is the host of the podcast  as well as an attorney, former law professor and media commentator. Her website is http://www.attorneyjessica.com.  You can contact Jessica and the podcast by email at iamattorneyjessicapodcast.com with feedback and show ideas.   John M. O'Connor J.D., University of California, Hastings College of Law M.A., University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communications B.A., Pomona College Professor  O'Connor has been the Research Attorney for the Madera Superior Court for the last seven years. Prior to that he was in private practice in Los Angeles, California, where his practice involved civil litigation (covering real estate, commercial lease, intellectual property, and employment disputes, among other areas) in state and federal courts.  In addition to Constitutional Law I and II he has also taught evidence, criminal procedure and professional responsibility at San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis, California.   Professor O’ Connor is the host of two podcasts you can find on You Tube and other platforms. The first podcast is dedicated  to You can reach the podcast on Twitter at @proseandconlaw. He is launching a new podcast called Keep Left which is a news and politics related podcast.  If viewers and listeners wish to reach Professor O’Connor please contact him through the podcast email at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com. 

New Years is a time of resolutions.  To eat healthier, leave work on time, work out more, meditate, lose weight or gain weight.  The list goes on and on.  But for many the stakes are higher and the power of what they are trying to give up or shed is more than an extra slice of pie or a missed day at the track or the gym.  Those grappling with addiction to alcohol or drugs can lose their homes, families, jobs and social circle.  The addiction becomes the center of the addict’s world at times. At the same time, many of our cultural icons in the United States and abroad have cited drugs as enhancing creativity or even a spiritual awakening or experience.   Having family and close friends that were in the grip of addictions this is an important topic to me.  I hope that our viewers and listeners gain some insight from my guest, Dimitri Mobengo Mugianis about these topics and the alternative therapy used to combat serious addiction to substances such as heroin. The larger societal and sociological issues surrounding addiction, rehabilitation, harm reduction are also explored.       In this episode we discuss:   Dimitri’s early influences including Beat poets and his time in a rock band; Dimitri's childhood in Detroit and Greek American family roots; The beginning of addiction and how he coped at different stages of his struggles with drugs; What ibogaine therapy is and how it derives from the bitwi religion/spiritual practice native to Gabon; How Ibogane has helped in ways that other treatments cannot; Criminalization vs. Rehabilitation of Addicts; The legalization of drugs and whether drugs should be criminalized or legalized; What are the human rights and policy issues surrounding drug policy and addiction that Dimitri sees as most prominent today in the world and in the US; How government use of psychedelics is a form of state violence; The tragic death of Elijah McClain as an example of state violence with psychedelics administered by police with fatal results; Dimintri’s media appearances and recent publications; How you can help a loved one with addiction in the US; How you can contribute to policy and non-profit efforts to assist those struggling with addiction; Dimitri's views on the psychiatry and psychology field's adoption of psychedelics as a potential treatment regimen; Dimitri's launch with a group of like minded people of http://www.cardea.net which takes a holistic view of healing and recovery through self awareness and improvisational approaches to growth;   JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST) BIO: Jessica Smith Bobadilla’s bio is at  http://www.attorneyjessica.com.  You can contact her at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com or I Am Attorney Jessica on Instagram or Facebook.     DIMITRI MOBENGO MUGIANIS BIO at Wikipedia.com:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitri_Mobengo_Mugianis Dimitri’s recent publications and media mentions include:   Salon.com:  "How Psychedelic Drugs Became a Tool of State Violence" with Jonathan Dickinson, August 1, 2020 https://www.salon.com/2020/08/01/how-psychedelic-drugs-became-a-tool-of-state-violence/ Salon.com:  "Why Mental Health Researchers Are Studying Psychedelics All Wrong", with Jonathan Dickinson, March 6, 2021 https://www.salon.com/2021/03/06/why-mental-health-researchers-are-studying-psychedelics-all-wrong/ The Guardian: "Magic Mushroom Companies are on the NASDAQ Now.  That's A Recipe For a Bad Trip" with Ross Ellenhorn, January 3, 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/03/us-drugs-magic-mushrooms-wall-street Dimitri's new venture with several partners is http:/www.cardea.net and his personal website where you can contact him is https://www.dimitrimugianis.com.

What better way to celebrate the day of love than to talk about 90 day fiance and all things fiance visa related.  Attorneys Joe Lackey and Kime Abduli are I Am Attorney Jessica regulars and join in for a lively discussion about the show, fiance visas and marriage cases and their beliefs about the impact the show has had and how accurate some of the depictions of couples in fiance visa and marriage based immigration cases actually are.  In this episode we discuss: The moments of appreciation and "love" Jessica, Kime and Joe have experienced from their clients; The K-1 visa process and the limitations and changes to the process particularly following the BIA decision in Matter of Sesay (BIA 2011); The protections under US law for victims of abuse and trafficking when people from other countries arrive to pursue their lives here through marriage but things go wrong; The Atlantic article from May 2021 focused on the dynamics of gender, race, and citizenship (link below); The 90 Day Fiance visa couple Jay Smith and Ashley Martson and the article's analysis of Ashley's harsh words for Jay when he was unfaithful wishing to have him jailed then deported for non-criminal conduct; The significance of US citizenship in the power dynamics of international marriages and relationships with Ashley and Jay as an example of this; The way the 90 Day Fiance show is exposing people to greater understanding of U.S. immigration law; The case of Nicole and Azan (seasons 4 and 5) and  U.S. Citizen Petitioner Nicole's inability to find a fiancial sponsor prompting her to contemplate moving with her daughter to Morocco instead of completing the immigration process; Is 90 Day Fiance making foreign marriages look better or worse?   Are international marriages just like any other marriage or relationship? Link to the article in The Atlantic referenced in this episode:  The Expirment Podcast:  The Surprisingly Complex History Behind 90 Day Fiance.  You can listen and subscribe to The Expirment Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts.   https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2021/05/reality-tv-us-immigration/618775/ BIOGRAPHIES  Host:  Jessica Smith Bobadilla Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an immigration and human rights lawyer with 20 years experience.  Her firm website is http://www.attorneyjessica.com.  (559) 264-2500 or (415) 398-4444.  You can contact the podcast at IAmAttorneyJessica on Facebook, Instagram or by email at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com. Guest: Joseph Lackey Joseph Lackey is an immigration and criminal defense attorney in Miami, Florida.  He has extensive experience representing immigrants and refugees from all over the world. He can be reached at (305) 492-4300 or at  info@josephlackey.com as well as on Facebook or Instagram. Guest:  Kime Abduli While it has been decades since Attorney Abduli's own immigration, the personal experiences of being an immigrant as well as the experiences of her friends and family are a constant reminder of the struggles and sacrifices that connect us all. Keeping this in mind, Attorney Abduli aims to be an advocate and a voice for her clients in their time of need and a champion for immigrants’ rights. Attorney Abduli strives to gain the confidence of clients and give them peace of mind by connecting with them and letting them know that she understands their fears and anxieties. She knows all too well what keeps them awake at night. Attorney Abduli is devoted to using her skills and expertise to her clients' advantage so that they, too, can chase their own "American Dreams."  She speaks English, Spanish, and Albanian and is admitted to practice in Wisconsin.  Kime is best contacted at http://www.abduliimmigrationlaw.com.

In this episode I Am Attorney Jessica regulars Joe Lackey and Kime Abduli join Jessica to discuss the highs and lows of immigration law and policy in 2021. The trio discuss the good, bad and the ugly of 2021 and what they hope and expect from 2022 in the world of immigration. In this episode we discuss: • Highlights of 2021 for Jessica, Joe and Kime personally and professionally; • Problematic things that remain in the immigration system that have not been changed that the new administration promised would be changed; • Jessica’s views and experience with advance parole for DACA students and permit holders; • What the Biden/Harris administration has delivered on so far in the world of immigration law and policy with regard to prosecutorial discretion and what remains unfinished business; • What the new administration has used as PR vs. what has actually changed legally or in terms of policy and institutional practice; • The prospects for immigration reform and Joe’s opinions on the political shifts that need to happen to make it a reality;   Jessica Smith Bobadilla  Jessica is the owner of the Law Office of Jessica Smith Bobadilla and the host of the podcast.  Her firm has offices in San Francisco, Fresno, Oakland and Los Angeles, California by appointment only. You can reach her through her website http://www.attorneyjessica.com or at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com.   Her full bio is on her website and episodes of the podcast are livestreamed there as well.   Joseph R. Lackey Joseph Lackey practices exclusively in the fields of immigration law and criminal defense and loves that the law teaches him something new every day. A graduate of Nova Southeastern School of Law and the University of Barcelona College of Law, Joseph is licensed to practice in the state of Florida, the Federal Southern District of Florida, the country of Spain as well as all member-countries of the European Union.  Joseph focuses on deportation litigation and criminal defense, and particularly enjoys the intersection between the two. Believing that everyone deserves a second chance, and that no one should be judged on their single worst moment, Joseph has dedicated his career to helping those whose past (or present) pose problems. He is honored to be part of the Somali 92 Team that received AILA’s 2019 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Human Rights Award.  He can best be reached through his website at http://www.josephlackey.com.   Kime Abduli  Kime Abduli was born in the small country of Macedonia to ethnically Albanian parents. Although her father had immigrated to the United States in search of his own “American Dream” before she was born, he decided it was a Dream he wanted his children to chase and live, as well. And so, at the ripe age of two, Attorney Abduli set off on her journey across the Atlantic. The Abduli Family resettled in Wisconsin where they have lived ever since.  As the first person in her family to speak fluent English, Attorney Abduli was often recruited by immediate and extended family members and friends to help them adjust to life in the United States.  It made her uniquely aware of the struggles faced by immigrants living in the United States. Language barriers, cultural barriers, and isolation from their extended families and communities. Yet despite the challenges they faced, they carried on, creating new lives for themselves and their families.  Even as a child, Attorney Abduli was everyone's “go to” person for immigration questions. Family and friends would often bring her their various applications for Attorney Abduli to translate and explain what was being asked. These experiences piqued her interest in immigration and immigration law at a very young age. From that time, Attorney Abduli knew she wanted to do more to help the immigrant community.    While it has been decades since Attorney Abduli's own immigration, the personal experiences of being an immigrant as well as the experiences of her friends and family are a constant reminder of the struggles and sacrifices that connect us all. Keeping this in mind, Attorney Abduli aims to be an advocate and a voice for her clients in their time of need and a champion for immigrants’ rights. Attorney Abduli strives to gain the confidence of clients and give them peace of mind by connecting with them and letting them know that she understands their fears and anxieties. She knows all too well what keeps them awake at night. Attorney Abduli is devoted to using her skills and expertise to her clients' advantage so that they, too, can chase their own "American Dreams." She can best be contacted through her website http://www.abduliimmigration.com.

In this episode Jessica sits down with Jonni Redick a twenty nine year veteran of the California Highway Patrol to discuss her recent book "Black, White and Blue, Surving the Sifting:.  Jonni is also a professor, consultant and media commentator on policing and police reform. In this episode we discuss: Jonni's experience growing up biracial in California and other states and the obtacles she encountered; Jonni's struggles as a child within her family; Jonni's entry into the California Highway Patrol and her rise through the ranks; Her view on policing and police reform; Jonni's perspective regarding the jury's recent conviction in Georgia following the death of Ahmad Aubrey and contrast with the Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal a few weeks prior in Wisconsin; Jonni's hope for the future related to community trust and policing; Jonni's book and the messages within that helped guide her through tough obstacles; Jonni and Jessica's advice to young people trying to rise in the ranks of any organization or company; What the Kairos moment is discussed in Jonni's book What the title's reference to "surviving the sifting" means and the overall significance of the book title Parting thoughts about police reform and the tough moments our country has experienced in reconciling policing with justice and social movements in the U.S. JONNI REDICK BIO In a multi-billion-dollar law enforcement organization, Jonni Redick oversaw large-scale civil disturbance, natural disaster response coordination, and oversight, and managed over a thousand personnel within daily operations. A 29-year veteran, rising through the ranks of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) from county clerical worker to breaking through the “less-than-one-percent” ceiling for women of color in executive leadership in law enforcement.  Her progression from front-line police work to executive leadership generated her passion for cultivating trust and legitimacy in organizational cultures. She now builds 21st Century leaders as the founder and CEO of JLConsulting Solutions (JLCS) where she works with police executives in law enforcement and public safety, CEOs in corporate, government, and nonprofit businesses.  She is also a speaker at women’s conferences, high schools, and universities.  She is a thought leader in law enforcement and educates public safety and law enforcement leaders across the country.  Jonni Redick is also the author of “Survival Guide” to Law Enforcement Promotional Preparation and the forthcoming book “Black, White & Blue: Surviving the Sifting.”  JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA'S BIO can be found at http://www.attorneyjessica.com.  You can email the podcast or message us at iamattorneyjessica on Instagram or Facebook or iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com.

This is a continuation of the dialogue between the guests from Episode 10 except guest Freshta Karimi could not join us and Ilaha Eli Omar, Founder and Director of Uplift Afghanistan joins to offer more perspective of the humanitarian crisis on the ground following the withdrawl at the end of August 2021 by the United States government.  This episode explores more about the legal, humanitarian and human rights issues facing Afghanistan, its people and the growing Afghani diaspora following the events of 2021.   In this episode we discuss: The current state of the humanitarian crisis on the ground in December 2021 The legal and media response of the world community The feelings of abandonment by the world community that some Afghans are feeling as this crisis starts to fade from the top of news cycles The United States government creation of special visas for certain Afghans as well as humanitarian parole  The failing thusfar by the United States to offer protection to Afghan citizens in need of an escape route Contrasting the United States vs. Canadian response and resettlement by Canada Farnoosh and Ilaha discuss their work together in Afghanistan  What can people do and where can they give to aid the effort    These are the sources recommended by our guests for giving or volunteer efforts: 1)  Uplift Afghanistan (Guest Ilaha Eli Omar is the Founder and Director)  http://www.upliftafghanistan.org 2)   Lifeline Afghanistan (in Canada)   http://www.lifelineafghanistan.ca 3) Afghan  American Artists and Writers Association  http:///www.aaawa.net 4) Afghan Legal Empowerment Portal (Guest Farnoosh Hashemian is a co-founder of this resource)  BIOGRAPHIES FARNOOSH HASHEMIAN Farnoosh Hashemian is an Iranian-American human rights lawyer with over two decades of experience advancing rights and dignity of vulnerable people around the globe. Notably, in 2011, she worked with Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission on security sector reform and from 2014-2018 she led and provided technical support to an Afghan coalition of prominent criminal justice reform groups and government officials, to draft and pass, the country’s groundbreaking anti-torture legislation. She is currently the Acting Director for Law Exchange with the Open Society Foundations’ Public Health Program, where she works on legal empowerment initiatives that improve health justice for marginalized groups. Since the beginning of the crisis, and in her personal capacity, she has co-led Afghan Legal Empowerment Portal, aiming to secure a safe right of passage for all Afghan grassroots activists left behind. Throughout her career, Farnoosh has sought to honor the work of justice defenders who came before her, build on collective local wisdom, and do the deliberate and careful intersectional work in pursuit of gender justice. In her view, it is indeed a feminist’s job to counter the alarming overuse of policing, surveillance, detention, and oppressive measures that replicate in the war on terror, the war on drugs, and the war against migrants. H HASHEMIAN   RANA HAZARAT Rana Hazarat is an Afghan-Canadian human rights lawyer based in Vancouver, BC. She arrived with her family to Canada as refugees. She is of Tajik and Hazara descent. Her lived experience as a refugee impacted her desire to pursue a legal education. Rana studied Political Science and Economics at the University of British Columbia and obtained a Juris Doctor from the Peter A. Allard School of Law. I currently work for Lawyers for Human Rights as a legal intern, which is funded by the Canadian Bar Association and Global Affairs Canada. She works with LHR's Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme. She  is also working on several national and international initiatives in response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, such as assisting with the resettlement of Afghans in Canada, facilitating refugee sponsorship applications, and drafting public legal education materials, calls to actions, and policy papers.  You can reach Rana by contacting the podcast if you have questions or a message for her.    ILAHA ELI OMAR Ilaha Eli Omar is an Afghan-American grassroots mobilizer with over 20 years of international development work and on-the-ground experience in Afghanistan, Haiti, and Kenya. Using her experience as an entrepreneur and founder of a successful technical consulting company, Ilaha enables nonprofits to transition from donor-dependent to self-sustainable organizations. In addition, Ilaha is currently a board and advisory council member for several nonprofits that focus on poverty alleviation, disability rights, emergency aid, and access to healthcare and education for all in Afghanistan, Haiti, and Kenya. Recently Ilaha launched Uplift Afghanistan Fund, a charitable fund aimed at connecting impact-driven donors with grassroots and community-led initiatives in Afghanistan. Ilaha holds a Global MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, is a member of the US-Afghan Women’s Council, and is currently based in San Francisco, California.  JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA Please find Jessica Smith Bobadilla's bio at her website attorneyjessica.com.  Please follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.  Look out for bilingual Spanish content soon for all our episodes as well as addition of the video to our Youtube channel, I Am Attorney Jessica, The Podcast.

In this episode Jessica is joined by Farnoosh Hashemian, Freshta Karimi, Rana Hazarat and Sahar Muradi to discuss the human rights dimensions of the issues facing Afghanistan in 2021.    In this episode we discuss: The impact of the United States withdrawing in August 2021 from Afghanistan  The reasons for the nature and timing of the United States withdrawing  after 20 years of engagement Different vulnerable groups impacted by the changes in the balance of power and takeover of the Taliban Life for Afghanis under the Taliban Sahar’s work as an artist to enable Afghani artists to use their voices and to assist some in attempting to exit  the country so they can continue their work freely Rana’s experience working as a Canadian human rights lawyer and with networks of people worldwide attempting to relocate Afghan refugees Frehta’s recent journey out of Afghanistan to Canada with her family and the details of how she almost did not make it out despite having been granted visas to multiple countries Farnoosh’s work to assist the human rights defenders still stuck in Afghanistan how are at risk with options for exiting the country Freshta’s observations of the problems with how US programs and development were conducted in light of the recent withdrawl Fresha’s grave concern for her fellow Afghanis  How you can help Afghani people and refugees: These are the sources recommended by our panel:   1) Uplift Afghanistan: http://www.upliftafghanistan.org   2) Lifeline Afghanistan: http://www.lifelineafghanistan.ca    3) Afghan American Artists and Writers Association: http:/www.aaawa.net BIOGRAPHIES  Farnoosh Hashemian is an Iranian-American human rights lawyer with over two decades of experience advancing the rights and dignity of vulnerable people around the globe. Notably, in 2011, she worked with Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission on security sector reform. From 2014-2018 she provided technical support to a coalition of prominent criminal justice reform groups and government officials, to draft and pass, Afghanistan’s groundbreaking anti-torture legislation. She is currently the Acting Director for Law Exchange with the Open Society Foundations’ Public Health Program, where she works on legal empowerment initiatives that improve health justice for marginalized groups. Since the beginning of the crisis, and in her personal capacity, she has co-led Afghan Legal Empowerment Portal, aiming to secure a safe right of passage for all Afghan grassroots activists.   Throughout her career, she has sought to honor the work of justice defenders who came before her, build on collective local wisdom, and do the deliberate and careful intersectional work in pursuit of gender justice. In her view, it is indeed a feminist’s job to counter the alarming overuse of policing, surveillance, detention, and oppressive measures in the war on terror, the war on drugs, and the war on migrants.  Freshta Karimi is the Founder and Director of Da Qanoon Ghushtonky (DQG – “Seeker of Law” in Pashto), one of the largest legal aid service organizations in Afghanistan. Shereceived her Law degree in 2014 from Payam-e-Noor University in Kabul and she is currently studying her masters in Kabul in law and criminology.  Freshta Karimi has dedicated her career to improving access to justice and promoting women and children’s rights since 2002. She is also a member of several groups advocating policy changes and has traveled extensively internationally representing her organization and promoting various women’s rights issues and highlighting the concerns of Afghan women. As an activist from the ‘new generation’ of Afghan women, Ms. Karimi has already affected change within her own organization and is committed to building a more secure and safe country for vulnerable groups. In addition to her commitment to combatting violence against women in Afghanistan, through her organization, Da Qanoon Ghushtonky (DQG), Ms. Karimi has worked to increase communities’ legal public awareness at the district and provincial levels, utilizing the publication of a variety of popular legal awareness materials.   DQG currently provides legal aid services for women, children and men in criminal and family cases in 16 provinces of Afghanistan. From DQG’s establishment in 2006 through March 2017, DQG lawyers have handled more than25,000 criminal and family cases, of which 70% of clients have been released or in civil cases, resolved in the favor of clients.  Moreover, DQG has worked consistently to build the capacity of defense lawyers, law and Sharia Law students, paralegals, judges, prosecutors and police over the past eight and half yearsthrough various training programmes. She has also frequently travel within Afghanistan, as part of her duties as Director of DQG.  She has also traveled internationally to represent both DQG and Afghan civil society. Recent travel has included trips to the India, Maldives, Belgium, United States, Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, Sweden and Hungary. In 2018 and 2016 she has also attended the Brussels and Geneva conferences and in 2014, she attended the London Conference on Afghanistan as the spokesperson on behalf of Afghan civil society. On many of these trips she has engaged the international media. Freshta received an award for her work from the Danish government.  She can be reached by email at freshta.karimi1@gmail.com.   Rana Hazarat is an Afghan-Canadian human rights lawyer based in Vancouver, BC. My family and I came to Canada as refugees. I am of Tajik and Hazara descent. My lived experience as a refugee has impacted my desire to pursue a legal education. I studied Political Science and Economics at the University of British Columbia and obtained a Juris Doctor from the Peter A. Allard School of Law. I currently work for Lawyers for Human Rights as a legal intern, which is funded by the Canadian Bar Association and Global Affairs Canada. I work in LHR's Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme. I am also working on several national and international initiatives in response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, such as assisting with the resettlement of Afghans in Canada, facilitating refugee sponsorship applications, and drafting public legal education materials, calls to actions, and policy papers.  She can be reached by email at ranahazarat@gmail.com    Sahar Muradi is a NYC-based writer, performer, and educator. She is the author of Ask Hafiz (which received the 2021 Patrons’ Prize for Emerging Artists from Thornwillow Press), [ G A T E S ] (Black Lawrence Press), and A Garden Beyond My Hand (Belladonna*), as well as co-author of A Ritual in X Movements (Montez Press), and co-editor of One Story, Thirty Stories: An Anthology of Contemporary Afghan American Literature (University of Arkansas Press). She is a founding member of the Afghan American Artists and Writers Association, which has recently mobilized to respond to the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan through public education and advocacy, fundraising on behalf of at-risk Afghan artists and activists, assisting with evacuation and resettlement efforts, and facilitating visa and parole application filing. Sahar has an M.F.A. in poetry from Brooklyn College, an M.P.A. in international development from NYU, and a B.A. in creative writing from Hampshire College. She directs the arts education programs at the cultural equity organization City Lore and dearly believes in the bottom of the rice pot. More at saharmuradi.com.  

In this episode we discuss: Tahmina's path to becoming an immigration lawyer and her experience as an organizer during the Trump administration Her experience as a Muslim American during the Trump years and in light of the Muslim Ban Tahmina's two books Legal Heroes of the Trump Era and The Startup Visa available on Amazon.com The ways in which Tahmina believes a "startup visa" could benefit the United States, the tech industry and individual immigrant innovators all at the same time Jessica and Tahmina comparing notes about representation of business immigrants vs. deportation defense and family based cases Jessica and Tahmina's beliefs about what would be best for immigration in the next era of reform and new ideas for how immigration can evolve in the United States.   JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA BIO  Jessica’s website: https://www.attorneyjessica.com/.  Jessica can be reached at (559) 264-2500 through her firm or for the podcast at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com.   Follow Jessica on Social Media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter   TAHMINA WATSON BIO Tahmina Watson obtained her law degree and graduated from Brunel University, London, England in 2000. She was Called to the Bar in 2002 (became a barrister) as a member of the Middle Temple Inn. After completing her pupillage (apprenticeship) from Bridewell Chambers in London in 2004, Tahmina continued as a practicing barrister, handling mainly criminal defense matters, before relocating to the United States in 2005. She was affiliated with Temple Court Chambers in London as a Door Tenant until recently. Tahmina was admitted to the New York Bar in 2006. Prior to founding Watson Immigration Law, Tahmina was a partner at White & Watson from July 2006 to December 2008 practicing exclusively in the area of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization law.  Before that, Tahmina externed with His Honor Judge Ricardo Martinez at the District Court of Western Washington in downtown Seattle.   She also interned for multiple terms at the Northwest Women’s Law Center (now known as Legal Voice). Tahmina is admitted to practice law in Washington State and the State of New York.  She is also admitted to the federal court of Western District of Washington.  She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the King County Bar Association. Tahmina is currently an unregistered member of the Bar of England and Wales. Past memberships include the International Bar Association, The American Bar Association, King County Washington Women Lawyers and other minority bar associations. She continues to be a member of the Middle Temple in London, UK.  Tahmina is an Adjunct Fellow at The Niskanen Center, a Washington DC-based think tank. She advises on immigration policy issues. Tahmina currently serves as Chair of the Response Committee of the Washington Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA WA), a committee she helped create after the November 2016 election.  She currently serves on the Board of Trustee for the King County Bar Association.  In addition, Tahmina recently helped form a non-profit organization called WIDEN- Washington Immigrant Defense Network which combines skills of immigration and non-immigration lawyers to help indigent detainees.Her other community activities include serving on the board of Point Hope, an organization that helps children. She is an active member of the pro bono community in Seattle, e.g., Northwest Immigrants Rights Project, One America etc..  Tahmina often provides free legal advice at local legal clinics.  Furthermore, she is an active supporter of Chaya, a Seattle based non-profit organization that assists battered women from a South Asian background. She serves as Chair of the Legal Advisory Committee of the Global Entrepreneur in Residence Coalition. Tahmina is also a columnist with The Seattle Globalist.She proudly served as the 2009-2010 President of the King County Washington Women Lawyers (KCWWL).  She also served on the board of Washington Women Lawyers from 2008-2010.  In the past, she served on the board of the Asian Bar Association of Washington.  She recently completed her term on the Mercer Island School District Diversity Advisory Committee.  In addition, she was the Advocacy Consultant for the feature film ‘For Here or To Go?’,  a movie that advocates for high-skilled immigration reform and a Startup Visa. She fluently speaks, reads, writes (and sings when playing her harmonium) Bengali, and knows conversational Hindi and Urdu.  In her spare time, Tahmina likes to volunteer in the community, listen to audio books and spend time with her family.  She is the designer and owner of Pinky’s Shoebags, a novel storage solution for the woman who can never have too many shoes. Tahmina can be contacted at her practice http:/www.watsonimmigrationlaw.com or her podcast and author website which is http://www.tahminawatson.com. Her firm number is (206) 643-9707.  Her podcast Tahmina Talks Immigration is available on Apple, Spotify and other platforms.

In July 2021, Jessica Smith Bobadilla was retained for the case of Luis Miguel Grijalva Morales an Olympian Who Was Also a DACA Permit Holder.  Luis was almost not able to travel due to the lengthy and complex process to obtain a travel permit for those with DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Status. Through a combination of media, political and legal action Jessica and Luis were able to obtain the permit and he traveled to Tokyo making it into the final round and setting a personal best in the finals as well as a record for Guatemala and Latin American runners in a 5000-meter race. Frequently during the media interviews, Jessica was asked if the emergency situation with Luis was the most stressful and emergency she had experienced with a DACA advance parole (another name for the travel permit) case.  Jessica laughed and said the name “Alex Avalos” kept popping into her mind and she responded that she had handled one more stressful case for someone traveling while DACA.  Alex Avalos who later obtained Lawful Permanent Residence joins the podcast to tell his story as does I Am Attorney Jessica regular Kime Abduli, Wisconsin-based exceptional immigration lawyer and all-around rockstar.  Kime’s knowledge and depth of personal connection to immigration law is only rivaled by her passion for fitness and strength.   In this episode we discuss: Alex Avalos his history as a DACA student and the Thought for Food competition he was invited to attend in Europe in 2015; The crazy path Alex and Jessica in her role as the Director of the New American Legal Clinic at San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis, California experienced to try to quickly obtain the travel document; Alex’s crazy experience when he was in Switzerland but later learned the travel permit had been approved but not arrived at his home due to an address issue in a rural area; Alex’s and Jessica’s ultimate decision to have him fly to Mexico and present himself at the US/Mexico border on foot with the appropriate documents that he had received; The discussion of Luis Miguel Grijalva Morales and the similar expedited process Luis and Jessica had to pursue to obtain his travel permit; Kime’s experience with DACA clients and DACA travel permit cases; The current status of DACA after multiple litigation efforts to end the program by restrictionist advocacy groups; Jessica’s recommendations for the Biden administration to allow DACA permit holders to obtain travel documents as part of their renewal process unless they have a prior removal order or other unusual issues that would make travel more legally complicated; Kime’s talk about the Olympic statement by a news outlet based in Kossovo after athletes from that region took several gold medals stating “Hey Europe, we who do not have visas, have 3 Olympic gold medals” referring to the restriction on Eastern European travelers to Western European countries. JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST) Jessica’s website: https://www.attorneyjessica.com/.  Jessica can be reached at (559) 264-2500 through her firm or for the podcast at iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com.   Follow Jessica on Social Media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter ALEX AVALOS (GUEST)  Alex Avalos is a 23-year-old recent graduate from West Hills College with a degree in Business Administration and General Studies. He was the Co-founder and Director of Product Development of AgForHire.  In 2015, while a DACA student, Alex qualified to attend the Thought for Food competition in Europe.  He was also the Marketing Coordinator for Harris Ranch for over two years.  Alex is currently an independent photographer, graphic design artist and marketing advisor.  Alex can be reached by email at avagtz@gmail.com.    KIME ABDULI (GUEST) Kime Abduli was born in the small country of Macedonia to ethnically Albanian parents. Although her father had immigrated to the United States in search of his own “American Dream” before she was born, he decided it was a Dream he wanted his children to chase and live, as well. And so, at the ripe age of two, Attorney Abduli set off on her journey across the Atlantic. The Abduli Family resettled in Wisconsin where they have lived ever since. As the first person in her family to speak fluent English, Attorney Abduli was often recruited by immediate and extended family members and friends to help them adjust to life in the United States.  It made her uniquely aware of the struggles faced by immigrants living in the United States. Language barriers, cultural barriers, and isolation from their extended families and communities. Yet despite the challenges they faced, they carried on, creating new lives for themselves and their families.  Kime is the owner of Abduli Immigration Law in Wisconsin.  She can be reached through her website http://www.abduliimmigrationlaw.com or at (414) 312-7275.

In June 2021 Vice-President Kamala Harris traveled to Guatemala and gave a now infamous speech where she told people in the Central American nation "Do not come".  With little context, explanation or recognition of United States or international law Vice-President Harris comments were seen as more of the same like almost a continuation of Trump era policies and dumbed down rhetoric.  These statements by My two guest, Luis Marco and Carolina Martin Ramos  in Episode 7 are both indigenous people and co-directors of a non-profit with national and international reach for assistance and protection fo Maya people.   On the day that Vice-President made her statement in Guatemala Luis Marcos made the following statement on social media:   "Vice-President Harris' callous words to the people of Guatemala and to the Maya Nation, first ignore that Guatemala as a State is on Maya Territory by virtue of the International Legal Construct known as the Doctrine of Discovery.  Second her words ignore US's obligations under international law as well as its moral obligation to humanity.  This includes its commitment to respect the right of the persecuted to seek asylum as refugees, and Indigenous People's pre-existing rights to migrate as recognized in article 36 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples".   In this episode we discuss: The history of the Maya people and Luis' Mayan Guatemalan roots; Carolina's indigenous roots in Mexico and the United States; The appropriation of traditional native North and South American prints and garb in US and European fashion; The impact of VP Harris' statements in Guatemala and the irony of such statements on Maya territory; Current US immigration and asylum policy and its implications for asylum seekers and indigenous people; The doctrine of discovery and how this fueled crimes against humanity against indigenous people; The international human rights dimensions of indigenous rights; Groundbreaking legal work that Carolina and Luis are doing where the rights of indigenous people (apart from the rights under US law) are being raised in immigration court and United States courts; The important work of their organization and where you can donate or find out more about what they do. A trilingual farewell blessing in Maya, Spanish and English.   Jessica’s website: https://www.attorneyjessica.com/    Follow Jessica on Social Media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter   LUIS MARCOS BIOGRAPHY Luis Marcos belongs to the Q'anjob'al Maya Nation and serves as Ambassador of the Akateko, Chuj, Popti and Q'anjob'al Maya to the Omaha Nation, Member of the Council of Authorities of the National Council of Indigenous Peoples in Diaspora, Preparatory Budy Member of the Congress of Nations and States.  Furthermore, Luis Marcos is Co-Executive Director of Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim: Reinforcing our Roots, Living our Maya Heritage (CMPI) a 501c 3 organization of the Q'anjob'al Maya Nation in Nebraska. Luis Marcos works to dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery for the liberation of Indigenous Peoples and Humanity.   To reach Luis Marcos please email him at lmarcos@pixanixim.org.   Carolina Martin Ramos Biography Carolina Martin Ramos (Mexica Mestiza/Chicana/Kinship ties to U.S. Tribes in SE) is Co-Executive Director of Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim (CMPI) and directs the Maya Human Rights Program and legal services at CMPI. Carolina is an immigration and human rights attorney with years of experience in nonprofit, government, and private practice. She has worked on crimmigration law as a former public defender, represented noncitizen victims of human trafficking and crimes, and asylum seekers. She has received special recognition for her work with Indigenous migrants and LGBTQ asylum seekers. Currently, Carolina focuses her work on the rights of Indigenous Peoples through pre-existing Indigenous traditional laws and governance and international human rights mechanisms while training Indigenous legal advocates to represent Indigenous migrants in immigration proceedings.  Through her work, Carolina has responded to multiple legal and humanitarian crises related to gender violence and the forced displacement of Indigenous Peoples under colonial state policies including environmental destruction through extractive projects and industries. Carolina volunteered at the Red Owl Legal Collective (aka Legal Tent) at Oceti Sakowin, Standing Rock Nation, worked with asylum seekers at the U.S. – Mexico border region during “the surge” in 2014 and subsequent events where caravans of asylum seekers faced human rights violations, family separations, and refoulement under Trump administration Zero Tolerance policies and Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). In 2018, Carolina traveled to Maya Territory to work directly with families separated at the border and reunited parents and families with their children held in U.S. custody. Carolina’s work at CMPI is inherently transnational, cross-jurisdictional, cross border, decolonizing, and anti-colonial. Through the CMPI Maya Human Rights Program, she focuses on providing immigration legal services to Maya and Indigenous migrants, policy and advocacy work in the U.S., and human rights work with Indigenous land and water protectors in Maya Territories.  You can reach Carolina through the Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim organization at http://www.pixanixim.org and carolina@pixanixim.org.   To donate to Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim please visit their website or email Luis or Carolina.  All donations are tax deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and will be devoted to the betterment of indigenous people.

In 1988 the Hollywood blockbuster Coming to America debuted, starring Eddie Murphy with a star-studded cast, breathtaking sets, and costumes inspired by the fashions of African royalty. Few who have seen this film regret it. Fast forward to 2021 and the sequel, Coming to America 2, is released. As is true in most cases, the sequel did not live up to the expectations that fans had after the original film. But is this an example of art imitating life? In other words, is the 1988 version of the immigration system more logical than what is happening in 2021 in light of global pandemic closures of immigration courts, immigration offices, and consulates worldwide? Has the immigration system evolved or devolved since Coming to America debuted in 1988?   In this episode, we talk about… Coming to America 1 and 2 and things we liked and disliked about the movies. How Coming to America in 1988 perhaps exposed some Americans to a different view of what they believed immigrants and Africans to be. How Jessica, as a member of the Armenian diaspora, connected to the idea that people within your community who come from abroad can infuse you with new knowledge of yourself and your culture that was reflected in the Coming to America series. How Kime's experience as a member of the Macedonian/Albanian immigrant community reminded her of certain things in the film. What the immigration law was like in 1988 with the amnesty and legalization programs through the restrictive package of laws passed in 1996; through the immigration reform package that last sunset in April 2001; to the current era of travel bans, asylum restrictions and pandemic related closures and delays. How the 2021 version of Coming to America 2 was ironic to immigration lawyers as it hit at a time of bans and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic where they were not seeing a lot of "coming to America" at that time. What the 2021 sequel should have been named according to our host and guests. Joe's analysis of the Trump administration policies on immigration and asylum including "wait in Mexico" and how he sees that as part of a larger movement and message from the former administration.   Links to resources:   Jessica’s website: https://www.attorneyjessica.com/    Follow Jessica on Social Media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter   Guest Kime Abduli: Website |  LinkedIn | Facebook          Phone: (414) 312-7275 | Email: abdulimmigrationlaw@gmail.com    Guest Joseph R. Lackey: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook         Phone: (305) 782-8280 | Email: joseph@josephlackey.com    If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email iamattorneyjessicapodcast@gmail.com