PROSE Award- Psychology Finalist
A timely and important contribution to the study of immigration court
from a psychological perspective
Every day, large numbers of immigrants undertake dangerous migration
journeys only to face deportation or "removal" proceedings once they
arrive in the U.S. Others who have been in the country for many years
may face these proceedings as well, and either group may seek to gain
lawful status by means of an application to USCIS, the benefits arm of
the immigration system. Mental Health Evaluations in Immigration Court
examines the growing role of mental health professionals in the
immigration system as they conduct forensic mental health assessments
that are used as psychological evidence for applications for deportation
relief, write affidavits for the court about the course of treatment
they have provided to immigrants, help prepare people emotionally to be
deported, and provide support for immigrants in detention centers.
Many immigrants appear in immigration court--often without an attorney
if they cannot afford one--as part of deportation proceedings. Mental
health professionals can be deeply involved in these proceedings, from
helping to buttress an immigrant's plea for asylum to helping an
immigration judge make decisions about hardship, competency or risks for
violence. There are a whole host of psycho-legal and forensic issues
that arise in immigration court and in other immigration applications
that have not yet been fully addressed in the field. This book provides
an overview of relevant issues likely to be addressed by mental health
and legal professionals. Mental Health Evaluations in Immigration
Court corrects a serious deficiency in the study of immigration law and
mental health, offering suggestions for future scholarship and acting as
a vital resource for mental health professionals, immigration lawyers,
and judges.
