The Immigration Court Helpdesk (ICH) program educates non-detained respondents in removal (deportation) proceedings about the court process. The goal of ICH is to help individuals make informed decisions about their legal cases and, in doing so, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of immigration court proceedings. Vera works with thirteen nonprofit legal service providers, who offer sessions about the immigration court process generally and potential defenses from removal. The program, funded by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and administered by Vera, operates at thirteen immigration courts across the country.

Project Locations

Project Objectives

  • Because immigrants in court proceedings are not entitled to legal representation at the government’s expense, ICH prepares unrepresented individuals to understand the immigration court process and navigate a complex legal system on their own.

  • By providing immigrants with the knowledge to make informed decisions, ICH helps make immigration proceedings more efficient in courts with significant backlogs across the country.