Vera Institute of Justice

Overview

The report focuses on comparative rates of representation, search for legal counsel by noncitizens, and the effects of representation (or lack thereof) on Immigration Court proceedings and outcomes. We conducted interviews and observations and obtained information on rates of representation and case outcomes for New York City. We also obtained data for other jurisdictions to see if the experience in New York City was unique or representative of the country as a whole. With this combination of qualitative and quantitative information, we were able to substantially clarify longstanding assumptions about the role and effect of legal counsel in Immigration Court.