Vera Institute of Justice

Overview

Representation before any court of law is a matter of fundamental fairness. However, immigrants facing deportation are entitled to representation paid for by the government only in extremely limited circumstances, despite the high stakes involved in these proceedings. A growing body of research demonstrates the need for representation and its significant impact in immigration court. As this factsheet explains, representation increases due process by helping immigrants access the defenses and protections available to them under the law. Representation also increases the likelihood that people will be released from detention and that they will appear in court.