SILVER SPRING, Maryland – The White House issued a memo Saturday ordering the attorney general and the Department of Homeland Security to engage in investigation of and sanctions against members of the legal profession who they claim are committing fraud and misconduct, designating immigration lawyers as targets of such investigation and federal action.

As a national network of legal service providers, CLINIC firmly rejects this sweeping, false, and dangerous accusation.

"We resolutely stand behind our network of legal representatives who heroically provide legal services to low-income, vulnerable immigrants," said Anna Gallagher, CLINIC executive director. "Our network is full of competent, ethical, selfless legal professionals who work to uphold the rule of law and ensure that all people receive due process and quality representation, in accordance with the principle of universal human dignity based in Catholic teaching and our national values. As legal service providers we reject these accusations and will not be intimidated from continuing to represent immigrant families with integrity and to the best of our ability. We will continue to support the CLINIC network and all our partners providing immigration legal services as they carry out their sacred work."