On March 22, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum titled “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court”. The memorandum directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to punish attorneys who file what the Trump administration deems to be dishonest or baseless lawsuits against the government, particularly targeting immigration and election cases. 

This memo is the government’s clear attempt to silence and intimidate immigration attorneys and advocates who are committed to upholding the rights of immigrants and directly impacted communities. Under the false guise of addressing dishonest and baseless claims, the government seeks to target zealous and legitimate legal advocates who aim to hold it accountable. The memo undermines the constitutional right to legal representation, weakens the rule of law, and intends to chill judicial challenges to the government’s unlawful activities .

Our legal system depends on the ability of all people to access fair representation, and efforts to threaten attorneys for doing their jobs are a direct attack on justice. We will continue to stand with our communities and defend their ability to exercise their rights.

In response, Stephen Manning, Executive Director at Innovation Law Lab, issues the following statement: 

“To all lawyers: step in, step up, be bold and do not recede. If you are attacked, fight back. Law Lab’s lawyers will be back in court tomorrow suing Trump and his minions and we will do that the next day and the next day. At Law Lab, our lawyers defend the Constitution, respect the rule of law, and aim everyday to do justice to the people we represent.”