This program is eligible for 1 hour of CLE credit in 60-minute states. In 50-minute states, this program is eligible for 1.2 hours of CLE credit. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
Overview
"Immigration Law Hot Topics" explores current and pressing issues in immigration policy and legislation. Key areas of focus include changes to asylum processes, challenges to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), enforcement policies, and the legal status of undocumented immigrants. The discussion often highlights state vs. federal authority, court rulings affecting immigration laws, and the humanitarian implications of current practices. Additionally, the review addresses the political climate surrounding immigration reform and the ongoing debates over border security and the treatment of migrant populations. Overall, it reflects the complex and evolving nature of immigration law in the U.S. and its impact on individuals and communities.
Recorded in March 2025.
Faculty
W. John Vandenberg, Esq.
John is the Managing Partner of Hogan & Vandenberg. His interest in immigration stems from his first trip abroad, during a mission with the U.S. Navy. Back in the United States, he was originally going to pursue international law but decided to specialize in immigration law during a summer job at the Villanova Clinic for Asylum, Refugee, and Emigrant Services. John has experience with all aspects of immigration, from deportation defense to employment-based visas. He speaks Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, and Portuguese and understands Arabic, Russian, and Spanish. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.
Maggie Kopel, Esq.
Maggie is a Senior Staff Attorney with Nationalities Service Center in Philadelphia. She works in the Pennsylvania Immigrant Family Unity Project (PAIFUP) to provide federal court representation to individuals experiencing immigration detention in Pennsylvania. The majority of her clients are Philadelphia residents who have been detained by ICE in Western Pennsylvania at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center. She is committed to decarceration and to the rights of all immigrants to live freely and with dignity. Maggie attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she now teaches as a Lecturer in Law with the Transnational Legal Clinic. She clerked for Judge Gerald McHugh on the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and for Chief Judge Michael Chagares on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
David A. Spaulding, Esq.
David Spaulding is an attorney and a licensed Private Detective with Lenape Law, P.C. He has substantial experience in government, law, investigations, and business. In addition to his Customs and Compliance (Form I-9 and Wage & Hour Division) practices, he investigates regulatory violations and business irregularities. Prior to entering into private practice, he was a port inspector and an immigration adjudicator, investigator, supervisor, and manager. He earned his J.D. from Temple University and lives in Chester County with his wife and children.

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