In California, a program is working to help illegal immigrants who are facing deportation without a lawyer. The program, run by the California Immigration Project, sends volunteer lawyers to immigration courts to assist those without representation.

Challenges in Immigration Court

Unlike criminal court, there is no guaranteed lawyer in immigration courts. Illegal immigrants must hire one at a cost of thousands of dollars or hope to get represented by a non-profit organization. However, waitlists with these organizations are long, and many parts of the country do not have many immigration attorneys.

Data shows that legal representation can be vital to winning in court, but many illegal immigrants, unable to pay for a private lawyer or find a pro bono one, navigate the system without an attorney at their side. According to an analysis of immigration court data, people in 52% of pending deportation cases do not have a lawyer.

Program Helps Bridge the Gap

The program in California is trying to bridge this gap by providing volunteer lawyers to assist illegal immigrants in court. The lawyers help them navigate the complicated legal system and understand their rights. The program also offers clinics to help illegal immigrants fill out their asylum applications and provides them with information about the court process.

One of the coordinators of the program, Kamalpreet Chohan, said that having an attorney is crucial to navigating the system successfully. She also warned that many illegal immigrants are scammed by fake lawyers who take their money but do nothing to help their case.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.