Behind the Green Card: How Immigration Policy is Killing the American Dream - Softcover

Donald Dobkin is a prolific writer and internationally renowned lawyer, having handled over 5000 cases in his 30-year career. His writings on immigration law, administrative law, civil liberties and constitutional law have been published in leading reviews, journals and as book chapters.
Mr. Dobkin holds law degrees from both Canada (LL.B., Windsor) and the United States (LL.M., Northwestern) and has done Political Science graduate work at Johns Hopkins University. After receiving his Masters degree from Northwestern University Law School, Mr. Dobkin began his career as immigration counsel to the American Medical Assn. From there he went on to found Dobkin & Associates where he served as President for over 20 years. Mr. Dobkin has held Martindale-Hubbell's highest 'av' rating for more than 25 consecutive years, and last year was recognized as one of Metro Detroit's top lawyers by DB magazine.
Mr. Dobkin s work has been featured in Immigration Lawyers Weekly, The Journal of the International Bar Association, and numerous websites including Immigration Law Professor Blog, Administrative Law Professor Blog, Legal History blog, ILW.COM, Interpreter Releases, International Bar Association, and the Canadian American Bar Association to name but a few.
His latest publication appeared in the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal, the world s leading immigration law compendium. A much sought-after speaker, Donald has lectured on immigration issues at universities and professional associations across the United States, Canada and England and has made presentations of his scholarly works at numerous academic meetings. He is Emeritus Chair of the Oakland County, Michigan Bar Association, Immigration Law Section.

'This timely and hard-hitting analysis is a must read for US immigration professionals as well as anyone interested in the politics and the mechanics of the immigration process. Dobkin, a veteran immigration practitioner turned author and academic, provides a unique prescription for solving our immigration mess. This book makes an important and unique contribution in the critical immigration debate in this nation of immigrants.' --Bernard Wolfsdorf, Past-President, American Immigration Lawyers Association

'Compellingly argued and meticulously researched . . . Behind the Greencard provides a rare and revealing account of the shortcomings in the existing immigration labyrinth and how we got there. Certainly, a must read for politicians and legislators as well as anyone interested in national policy issues . . . This is a terrific book.'-- --Joel B. Grossman, Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University

'Finally a book on immigration by someone who's actually done it not a
journalist, not a think tank, not a career academic. Donald Dobkin surgically dissects the key elements of our immigration structure and explains in a highly readable style why we have the problems we do and the difficult
prospects for solving them. Dobkin has hit the ball off the cover with this
important book.' Rami Fakhoury, Founder, Fakhoury Law Group

Behind the Green Card is a must read for students and practitioners of
immigration law and social scientists more generally. Donald Dobkin's book
provides an exhaustive account of the law and unintended consequences
that surface in the wake of this dysfunctional legal system. Dobkin should be applauded for combining a scholarly understanding of the issues with a practitioner s practical eye towards addressing them. --Robert Koulish, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland

Just because someone - especially an immigration lawyer - can write a book, doesn't mean it's worth reading. It may just mean they know the mechanics of book writing. 'Behind The Green Card' isn't just another homogenized self-serving publication from just another member of the cautious, money-clutching herd. This book is part history and part policy discussion. But most important to me is its compelling descriptions of abuses of power and overly far-reaching authority within the US government immigration machinery.
In 1771, Edmund Burke said, 'The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.' Dobkin's 'Behind The Green Card' is a refreshing and welcome view into the current morass of immigration law. Dobkin isn't afraid to question anything: the economically debilitating immigration business legal system, a disturbing quasi-lawmaking in the executive branch, an oddly Schutzstaffel-like ICE security force, and the erosion of due process. Nothing escapes his discerning and penetrating net, including the expedient interests of politician and bureaucrats alike.
Here's what's dangerous: Americans being so contented, soft, and complacent that the government can run amok without anyone being very concerned. Here's what's dangerous in Immigration Law: lawyers making enough money, properly and otherwise (encouraged by their organizations?) to ignore any path to a reasonable and beneficial immigration legal system. Finally there is a book that carries that actuality out of its dark shadow this one.
'Behind The Green Card' is a sturdy rudder for guidance toward 1) a better immigration scheme; 2) a government guided by principles; and 3) an ethical foundation for immigration lawyers. If that doesn't interest you, don't buy it-- there's always NPR, Fox News, or another CIR webinar.' --Anthony Guidice, Esq. ILW.COM