Adam Walsh Act Forensic Evaluations: Psychosocial Evaluation of Family Based Immigrant Petitions

On July 27, 2006 President George W. Bush enacted the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. This law was meant to protect children from sexual exploitation in violent crimes, prevent child abuse and child pornography, and to promote Internet safety. However, the act also amended INA Section 204 and effectively prohibited US citizens and lawful permanent resident aliens who have been convicted of any “specific crime against a minor” from filing any family-based immigrant petition on behalf of any beneficiary. In this program, forensic expert Mark Silver presents an overview of the Adam Walsh Act as it pertains to immigration defense lawyers who assist clients with family-based immigration petitions specifically focusing on the forensic challenges and clinical mitigation issues in these complex and serious cases.