Professor Michael Vastine joined the faculty of St. Thomas University College of Law in 2004, where he is a tenured professor of law and Director of the Immigration Clinic. A frequent conference speaker and author, he is also a leader of the immigration bar, with extensive service within the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). From 2011-20, he was elected to serve on the AILA South Florida Chapter Board of Directors, including a term as Chair of the Chapter. Professor Vastine’s AILA national-level service includes multiple terms on the Federal Litigation Section Steering Committee, Annual Conference Planning Committee, and Amicus Curiae Committee. His impact litigation principally relates to immigration and crimes, including the lead case at the Florida Supreme Court establishing the constitutional rights of immigrant defendants to effective representation by their criminal counsel, and multiple cases at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit delineating the immigration consequences of Florida convictions involving controlled substances. Additionally, he has represented AILA and other community-based organizations, as amicus curiae counsel, in forums ranging from the Board of Immigration Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, in matters including the constitutional limits of indefinite detention of immigrants, the due process rights of the physically deported, and the immigration consequences of state crimes. In 2013, Professor Vastine received the AILA (National) Elmer Fried Award for Excellence in Teaching.

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September 2023
2023 World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Sunday, September 24, 2023, will mark the Vatican’s 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Holy Father has chosen the theme “Free to Choose Whether to Migrate or to Stay,” intending to promote a renewed reflection on a right that has not yet been codified at the international level: the right not to have to migrate or, in other words, the right to be able to remain in one’s own land.
Find out more »July 2023
Partnering Globally for Best Practices in Education, Training, and Advocacy against Human Trafficking
On July 18, 2023, the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy of St. Thomas University College of Law is honored to host a delegation of government officials, dignitaries, and other…
Find out more »March 2023
Survivors Who Thrive: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Roza Pati and the Honorable Robert R. Lung
The educational impact of learning from human trafficking survivor leaders is unmatched. Their voice, their resilience, their wisdom should guide all good law, policy and practice. From this perspective, on…
Find out more »February 2023
International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking & Gillen-Massey Award Luncheon
The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy in cooperation with A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center invites you to join us for a luncheon for International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human…
Find out more »Mass Honoring International Day of Prayer & Awareness Against Human Trafficking
Please join us on February 8 at 12:15 p.m. for Mass to commemorate the International Day of Prayer & Awareness Against Human Trafficking as we pray for victims and survivors…
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