uscis stakeholder engagement on the unauthorized practice of immigration law and building capacity...
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USCIS Stakeholder Engagement on the Unauthorized USCIS Stakeholder Engagement on the Unauthorized Practice of Immigration Law and Building Capacity of Practice of Immigration Law and Building Capacity of
Immigrant Serving Organizations Immigrant Serving Organizations April 14, 2011April 14, 2011
EOIR Legal Orientation & Pro Bono ProgramEOIR Legal Orientation & Pro Bono Program
Steven Lang, Coordinator
Pro Bono ProgramPro Bono Program
Since April, 2000
Aim – To improve access to legal information, advice and counseling and increase rates of representation for individuals appearing before the Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
Pro Bono ProgramPro Bono Program
Strategy:
Design and implement initiatives to
facilitate access to information and create
new incentives for attorneys and law
students to accept pro bono cases.
Legal Orientation & Pro Bono Legal Orientation & Pro Bono ProgramProgram
Four main initiatives:
1) Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
2) Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Alien Children (LOPC)
3) BIA Pro Bono Project
4) Model Hearing Program
Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Created through Congressional Appropriation in Fiscal
Year 2002 based upon success of 1998 DOJ Pilot Program, and other similar programs (Florence Project)
For all detained respondents prior to initial Master:* Group Orientations
* Individual Orientations* Self-help Materials / Workshops
* Pro Bono Referral
Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
• Carried out through contract with Vera Institute of Justice and subcontracts with local non-profit organizations
• Local immigration court coordination
• Local ICE / CDF coordination
Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
*Helps detained respondents make more informed decisions earlier in proceedings
* Faster completion times
* Fewer days in detention
* Improved access to legal information & counseling
Legal Orientation Program (LOP) Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
Current sites:
1. Eloy, Arizona
2. Pinal County, Arizona
3. Port Isabel, Texas
4. Tacoma, Washington
5. Lancaster, California
6. Willacy County, Texas
Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
Current sites (cont’d):
7. Aurora (Denver), Colorado
8. Houston, Texas
9. Pearsall, Texas
10. Batavia (Buffalo), New York
11. York, Pennsylvania
12. Berks County, Pennsylvania
Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
Current sites (cont’d):
13. Otay Mesa, California
14. San Diego, California
15. Hudson County, New Jersey
16. Monmouth County, New Jersey
17. Essex County, New Jersey
18. Bergen County, New Jersey
Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
Current sites (cont’d):
19. Orange County, New York
20. Krome (Miami), Florida
21. Miami, Florida
22. El Paso, Texas
23. Otero County, New Mexico
24. Stewart (Lumpkin), Georgia
Legal Orientation Program (LOP)Legal Orientation Program (LOP)
Current sites (cont’d):
25. La Salle (Jena), Louisiana
26. Hampton Roads, Virginia
27. ICA Farmville, Virginia
LOPLOP
FY 2010:
Over 62,000 detained respondents served
Approximately 50% of all detained aliens in EOIR removal proceedings
Orientations and written materials cover:What to expect from an attorney?Beware of unauthorized practitioners!
LOPLOP
San Diego non-detained LOP
Miami non-detained pilot:
Immigration Judge refers to LOP provider individuals who have been unable to secure counsel and who do not appear to understand the nature or purpose of the proceedings, such as those who may be mentally incompetent.
Legal Orientation ProgramLegal Orientation Programfor Custodians of Unaccompanied for Custodians of Unaccompanied
Alien ChildrenAlien Children(LOPC)(LOPC)
• Authorized under TVPRA Section 235(c)(4)• In cooperation with HHS Office of Refugee
Resettlement • Carried out under contract with Vera Institute and
through subcontracts with nonprofit organizations• Launched in October 2010 at four sites• Expanded in March 2011 to 13 sites total
LOPCLOPC
• Current LOPC sites: • Phase I:
1) Los Angeles, California
2) New York, New York
3) Houston, Texas
4) Harlingen, Texas
LOPCLOPC
• Current LOPC sites (cont’d): Phase II:5) Boston, Massachusetts6) Newark, New Jersey7) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania8) Washington, DC9) Charlotte, North Carolina10) Atlanta, Georgia11) Miami, Florida12) Dallas, Texas13) San Francisco, California
LOPCLOPC
Potential to reach 75% of all UAC Custodians (Sponsors) by end of first year
BIA Pro Bono ProjectBIA Pro Bono Project
Since January 2001NGO / Pro bono attorney driven Access facilitated through technologyOver 700 cases placed with pro bonoRecently celebrated 10th AnniversaryFocus primarily on detained appeals
Model Hearing Program Model Hearing Program (MHP)(MHP)
• Practical and relevant “hands-on” immigration court training to small groups of attorneys and law students with IJ volunteer in courtroom.
• Useful tool for improving quality of advocacy and increasing levels of pro bono representation.
• Approx. 50 Model Hearings held since 2001
EOIR Committee on Pro BonoEOIR Committee on Pro Bono “EOIR Committee on Pro Bono” formed pursuant to Attorney General
Measure#22
Committee consulted with representatives from government, nonprofit organizations, bar associations, private law firms.
Committee drafted “Recommendations to Expand and Improve EOIR’s Pro Bono Programs.”
OPPM 08-01 - Guidelines for Facilitating Pro Bono Legal Services
Designated Pro Bono Liaison Immigration Judges
Thank you
www.justice.gov/eoir/probono/probono.htm