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Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Many immigrants facing hearings in California’s immigration courts lack legal representation, increasing their risk of deportation under the Trump administration’s stricter policies.
- Legal representation significantly improves chances of success, with 47% of represented immigrants winning asylum compared to only 19% without a lawyer, yet over half of cases lack attorneys due to high costs and limited pro bono availability.
- Volunteer programs like the California Immigration Project provide crucial assistance by helping immigrants navigate complex court procedures, complete detailed asylum applications, and avoid scams from fraudulent lawyers.
- The immigration court system has become more challenging with practices such as mass hearings and ICE arrests at courthouses, creating confusion and fear among immigrants appearing without legal counsel.
- Advocates emphasize the urgent need for universal legal representation to ensure fairness and better outcomes for immigrants navigating the U.S. immigration court system.
