Vera Institute of Justice’s Post

“Legal service providers across the country are at capacity, unable to support people at risk of deportation who are struggling to defend their rights, remain with their families, and build safe and stable lives. To secure the safety of our communities, we must resource and build up legal infrastructure locally.” —Shayna Kessler, director of Vera’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative The SHIELD Act, a companion bill to the Fairness to Freedom Act, would do just that. It would help defend immigrant communities from the devastating impacts of deportation and provide immigration solutions that promote due process and keep families together. It is essential, in this moment—with nearly 4 million cases where people arefacing deportation in immigration court—that we prioritize common-sense reforms that update our outdated immigration system. https://lnkd.in/eCumTnFN

“Access to legal services for immigrants in California is not simply about safeguarding people’s rights, it's about preserving the fabric of families and communities. California must remain a leader in protecting its immigrant communities and pass the California REP For All Act to advance universal legal representation for all people facing deportation, regardless of their interaction with the criminal legal system.” — Shayna Kessler, associate director for advocacy for Vera's Advancing Universal Representation initiative Publicly funded legal services are a lifeline for immigrant families. The criminal exclusion currently in California’s program for removal defense exacerbates systemic racism in the criminal legal and immigration systems. Nobody should have to stand alone in immigration proceedings or while facing deportation and its devastating consequences. #Rep4All (AB 2031) will ensure all immigrants can access the resources they need, so California families can thrive with safety and stability. Here’s how: https://lnkd.in/eviyDKpp

“The government is always represented by a trained attorney. But the immigrant is often in immigration court alone.” — Annie Chen, director of Vera’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative Right now, the need for attorneys in immigration court far exceeds availability. In Wisconsin alone, thousands of immigrants are in court without lawyers because they are not guaranteed the right to an attorney. The difference between having and not having an attorney is truly life-altering: studies show that immigrants with attorneys are five times more likely to be granted relief from deportation if they seek it. No one facing deportation should have to defend themselves in a highly complex area of the law against well-resourced government lawyers. That is why we need to establish a universal right to federally funded representation that will ensure nobody is deported simply because they can’t afford a lawyer. https://lnkd.in/euJSZsKi

A note from Lillian Aponte Miranda, our Executive Director: “Thirty-five years ago, the Florence Project was founded in response to a growing need: legal representation for detained immigrants in Arizona. More and more asylum seekers were arriving to the U.S., fleeing civil wars in Central America, and an immigration judge witnessed immigrants appearing in his courtroom without legal representation. Knowing that many of them had valid asylum claims but neither the resources nor knowledge to navigate the complexity of the law, he led a call for legal advocates. The Florence Project was formed in response.   Today, the Florence Project is still answering the call. Throughout our history, we have innovated and adapted to meet the critical needs of adults and children in Arizona, immigration detention, and at our border through direct legal services, social services, and advocacy one ultimate goal: a world in which the Florence Project doesn’t need to exist at all.  But, for now, we’re still here. The thousands of adults and children in immigration detention in Arizona on any given day still face the prospect of appearing in immigration court alone because there is generally not a right to government appointed counsel in immigration removal proceedings. People in immigration detention continue to endure trauma, isolation from their community, and medical neglect. Increasing numbers of people are seeking protection at the U.S.-Mexico border, where they are encountering new, shifting, and complex barriers to seeking safety in the U.S. and are often forced to wait in inhumane conditions.  For these reasons, we continue to answer the call, in partnership with all of you who make our work possible. We continue to evolve by further integrating our direct services and advocacy to provide critical, life-saving legal and social services to immigrants in Arizona, while also advancing greater systemic change that ensures all immigrants know their rights under the law, have meaningful access to counsel, and are treated fairly and humanely. Thank you for joining us.” Read more in our upcoming Spring Newsletter, coming soon.  

With universal representation immigrants in detention are 10Xmore likely to secure their right to stay in the #US and non-detained individuals are more likely to have a favorable outcome in immigration court. That is why New York must increase funding for immigration legal services and pass the Access to Representation Act. To pave the way for a more inclusive, just, and resilient New York, we and our CARE for Immigrant Families coalition are advocating for a $150 million investment in immigration legal services that will support newly arriving individuals and longtime residents. #NewYork must continue to lead the way in addressing the complexities of immigration law and ensure all New Yorkers can thrive in their communities. https://lnkd.in/efXpxby3 #UniversalRepresentation #ImmigrantsRightsAreHumanRights

A more humane immigration system remains possible.     The decision in Jose Franco Gonzalez’s case established a right to legal representation for immigrants with serious mental health needs in immigration custody in California, Washington, and Arizona. While his story is one of the few positive cases in the immigration space, there is still so much work that needs to be done to create a more humane immigration system.    To truly move towards justice, the right to legal representation must be extended to children and families in such proceedings. No one should have to defend themselves in a highly complex area of the law against well-resourced government lawyers. The #UnitedStates needs a universal right to federally funded representation.  https://lnkd.in/gcTswszb   

No one should be without proper representation. Studies have shown that people in immigration proceedings with legal representation are more likely to have positive outcomes than those without representation. We also know that most immigrants, especially those who are detained cannot afford an attorney. I agree that we need a universal right to federally funded legal representation.

“All people deserve fairness and freedom, and we urge Congress to improve the antiquated U.S. immigration system by expanding legal pathways to citizenship, improving immigration case processing, and investing in universal legal representation to ensure that all children, adults, and families facing immigration proceedings are treated with dignity and have full access to due process.” —Nick Turner, President of the Vera Institute of Justice    Today, more than a year after the Fairness to Freedom Act was introduced by United States Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker, and U.S. Representatives Norma Torres, Pramila Jayapal, and Grace Meng, we gathered on Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to support this bill and establish a federal right to legal representation for all immigrants facing deportation.     The Fairness to Freedom Act is a solution that would help millions. With rising high stakes for immigrant communities and anti-immigrant proposals and rhetoric, it is essential that Congress   meet the moment and build a future where all people in the United States receive fair treatment under the law, no matter where they were born.     #UniversalRepresentation #Uniting4URep    https://lnkd.in/eP6qVtZN  

There are 556,000 people with pending cases in immigration court in Florida, and 80% of them lack legal representation to help them make their case. Deportation tears families and communities apart, and many people are sent back to places where their safety may be at risk. While the federal government provides lawyers for people who cannot afford one in criminal court, it does not do the same for people in immigration court. People deserve to be treated with fairness and due process, but right now, many people facing deportation are forced to navigate the complex U.S. immigration system alone against highly trained government lawyers, without anyone to explain their rights or to defend them. That's why we step in to provide FREE legal representation to immigrants facing deportation. Visit aijustice.org/donate to help us keep our community safe.

Amidst challenges like finding housing and steady employment, people seeking safety in the U.S. also face the daunting task of navigating the complicated legal system to complete their 1-year deadline to apply for asylum. In an interview with ABC 7 Chicago, NIJC Pro Bono Manager Ellen Miller and NIJC Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy explained the importance of this upcoming application deadline for asylum seekers and the current need for more pro bono attorneys to help. "If you don't apply within one year of arriving, you miss your opportunity to apply. That's what the law says," said Miller. "If you don't comply with your immigration requirement, you could face deportation," said McCarthy. "People are traumatized. They need some time to decompress and make sure they are safe, but at the same time, don't lose sight that they have an immigration case." Watch the full interview with ABC 7 below. Attorneys looking to help can learn how here: https://lnkd.in/eEVggqN.