Washington, DC – Today, more than 100 immigrant justice advocates from across the country joined Representative Norma Torres (CA) to rally on Capitol Hill and call for the passage of the Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023. The bill was introduced in the House and Senate last month by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Representative Torres, together with Senator Cory Booker (NJ), Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA), and Representative Grace Meng (NY), to establish a right to federally funded legal representation for anyone facing deportation who can’t afford it.

Fairness to Freedom: The Campaign for Universal Representation is spearheaded by the Vera Institute of Justice and the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) and is supported by more than 180 immigrant rights organizations, legal service providers, and government champions across the United States.

Having a lawyer makes a staggering difference to the outcome of a case. In the more than 2.1 million cases pending in immigration courts as of February 2023, over 1.3 million people—or 62 percent of immigrants facing deportation in immigration court—lack legal representation and must defend themselves against the prospect of being forcibly removed from their homes, families, and communities. This figure includes adults, families, and unaccompanied children. Studies show that people in immigration detention with attorneys are 3.5 times more likely to be granted bond (enabling release from detention) and up to 10.5 times more likely to establish their right to remain in the U.S. than those without representation. Currently, there are more than 55 jurisdictions across the country that have established their own publicly funded legal representation programs.

The Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023 would establish the right to federally funded, full-scope legal representation, require the government to facilitate access to counsel for people in its custody, and establish the Office of Immigration Representation to oversee a new national system of representation and work with existing state and locally funded removal defense programs.

“The United States would not be the country it is today without the courage, hard work, and sacrifice of immigrant communities, but the reality is we have failed these communities. Congress must correct that, and that begins with building a legal system based on fairness and basic human decency. I hope my colleagues -- on both sides of the aisle -- will hear you and do their jobs by passing the Fairness to Freedom Act to establish universal legal representation,” said Representative Norma Torres.

“The Fairness to Freedom Act is the first step to ensuring that immigrants facing deportation have access to legal representation, and aligning our laws with the values of justice and equality we aspire to embody as a nation. As a first generation New American, I have witnessed the transformative power of legislation in the lives of immigrants and refugees. My own family, hailing from Chihuahua, Mexico was able to naturalize thanks to the Immigration Reform and Naturalization Act of 1986. I would like to thank Representative Torres for joining us today and for her leadership in the fight for universal representation in the House of Representatives,” said Nicole Melaku, executive director of National Partnership for New Americans.

“Having legal representation is not only a critical immigrant rights issue. We cannot selectively advance our bedrock values of fairness and due process, which is why we need universal representation to protect the rights and freedoms of every person and community in the United States. I am advocating for the Fairness to Freedom Act today because this issue is personal to me. I am an attorney who has represented people facing deportation and detention. I’ve seen first hand how inhumane ICE detention centers are and today, as someone who was recently naturalized, I will be lobbying my Members of Congress for the first time in the nation’s capital. We ask that Congress follow the lead of the over 55 jurisdictions around the country that have established publicly funded deportation defense programs and pass the Fairness to Freedom Act.” said Annie Chen, director of the Vera Institute of Justice’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative.

“Together, we will change the system. Today I'm full of hope about what we are working towards to pass the Fairness To Freedom Act and create the change that we need. No person should be expected to take on the U.S. immigration system without a trained legal advocate beside them. Legal representation can make the difference between being imprisoned, being permanently separated from your family, and your life being in danger. This alone is not the solution, but it's the beginning of working towards a better future,” said Kelly Rojas, Esq, Senior Attorney at Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (CAIR).

About the Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023:
The Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023 would establish the universal right to federally funded legal representation for individuals facing removal who are unable to afford an attorney. The act would ensure full-scope representation, require the government to facilitate access to counsel for people in its custody, establish the Office of Immigration Representation to oversee the new national system of representation, work with existing state and locally funded removal defense programs, and ensure access to representation for anyone facing deportation who cannot afford a lawyer on their own.

To learn more about the Fairness to Freedom Act, please see the summary linked here.

For photos from the event, please see the folder linked here.

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About the Fairness to Freedom Campaign
Fairness to Freedom: The Campaign for Universal Representation was launched by the National Partnership for New Americans and the Vera Institute of Justice in April 2022. Fairness to Freedom is a national campaign supported by a coalition of over 180 civil rights groups, immigrant justice organizations, legal service providers and government leaders who are calling on Congress to establish a federally funded right to representation for anyone facing deportation. The campaign’s vision is for all people whose life, liberty, or ties to their community are at risk in the immigration system to have access to high-quality, independent legal representation, regardless of their ability to afford it. For more information, visit vera.org/fairness-to-freedom.