Building the Movement Summary Advancing Universal Representation: A Toolkit for Advocates, Organizers, Legal Service Providers, and Policymakers
Overview
The movement for universal representation—the idea that every immigrant facing detention and deportation should have the right to a publicly funded lawyer if they cannot afford one—continues to gain significant momentum. As a result of local and state campaigns, more than 40 jurisdictions across the country now fund deportation defense programs. With the growing injustices and instability that federal immigration enforcement and the spread of COVID-19 have brought to communities, local and state public investment in deportation defense is needed now more than ever. Vera, along with the National Immigration Law Center and Center for Popular Democracy, has developed Advancing Universal Representation: A Toolkit for Advocates, Organizers, Legal Service Providers, and Policymakers. This fact sheet provides a summary of insights included in its second module.
Key Takeaway
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to universal representation campaigns, and strategies must be tailored to local circumstances. But there are many lessons to be learned. Successful campaigns should be grounded in diverse coalitions that are inclusive, intersectional, and led by those directly impacted by detention and the immigration system.