uscis stakeholder engagement on the unauthorized practice of immigration law and building capacity...

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