Commission on Immigration

    The Commission directs the Association’s efforts to ensure fair treatment and full due process rights for immigrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees within the United States.

    Achieving America’s Immigration Promise: ABA Recommendations to Advance Justice, Fairness and Efficiency

    This document lays out the ABA’s top policy recommendations in the immigration system for the new administration. The document is divided into five sections, all priority areas for ABA policy and advocacy efforts: I. Reform the administrative adjudication process; II. Ensure access to counsel: III. Minimize reliance on immigration detention; IV. Restore humanitarian protections; and V. Preserve the rights of unaccompanied immigrant children.

    Read - Here

    Learn about the Impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. Immigration System

    To keep its members informed during this time, the Commission on Immigration has been compiling summaries of developments in the immigration system related to COVID-19. The latest summaries can be found below. This page will be updated weekly.

    Read - More

    Pro Bono Matters for Children Facing Deportation

    Thousands of children must face immigration judges each year without appointed counsel. With representation, asylum seekers have a five times greater chance of winning their case. Follow the link for pro bono opportunities nationwide to support children . Funded by the Vera Institute of Justice, "Pro Bono Matters for Children Facing Deportation" allows lawyers to search and share available pro bono cases for unaccompanied children (UC) detained by the federal government or released to live with family members while in deportation proceedings.

    Learn more

    Children's Immigration Law Academy (CILA) Pro Bono Information

    Make Justice - Real

    ABA Immigration News

    Oct. 29

    Oct. 12

    More immigration - Updates

    Donate to the Commission on Immigration

    The Commission on Immigration appreciates your donations that will help us to continue our work ensuring due process rights for the immigrant community. We thank you in advance for your generosity!

    Make a - Difference

    Our Projects:

    South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR)

    The South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) is a national effort to provide pro bono legal services to asylum seekers detained in South Texas by the United States government. The project recruits, trains and coordinates the activities of volunteer attorneys, law students and legal assistants.

    Learn more - ProBAR

    Immigration Justice Project (IJP)

    The Immigration Justice Project (IJP) of San Diego seeks to promote due process and access to justice for indigent immigrants and asylum-seekers through the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services for individuals appearing before the San Diego immigration court and in subsequent appeals as needed.

    Learn more - IJP

    Children's Immigration Law Academy

    The Children’s Immigration Law Academy (CILA), is an expert legal resource center created by the American Bar Association (ABA). CILA builds capacity for those working to advance the rights of children seeking protection through trainings, technical assistance, and collaboration.

    CILA - Website

    Fight Notario Fraud (FNF)

    Unscrupulous “notarios” or “immigration consultants” have become an increasingly serious problem in immigrant communities throughout the United States. The Commission is working to provide immigrant communities with information about this dangerous practice, and to support advocates who represent victims.

    Learn more - Fight Notario Fraud

    Detention and LOP Information Line

    The ABA Commission on Immigration is seeking talented law clerks and interns to assist in cutting-edge, individualized assistance to detainees held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

    Intern - With us

    Know Your Rights

    To help ensure America's commitment to justice for all, the American Bar Association Commission on Immigration has produced an updated version of "Know Your Rights," an educational video for the more than 400,000 men and women held in immigration detention facilities across the country each year.

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    Pro Bono Reflections from the Rio Grande Valley

    The Commission on Immigration has been hosting week-long pro bono trips to the Rio Grande Valley. These trips have allowed volunteers to get direct experience on the frontlines witnessing the immigration detention and removal systems and hearing directly from asylum-seekers and others who travel to the United States seeking protection. Here we will feature some ProBAR volunteers' reflections on their experiences.

    Newest Blogs

    A Small Victory in a Larger Fight: A Summer Bond Hearing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

    American Bar Association Organizes Impactful Pro Bono Trip to Southern Border in October - Aimee Sullivan

    Pro Bono Reflections from the Rio Grande Valley - Joel Padilla

    New Resource: Tu Futuro, Tu Voz

    The ABA Commission on Immigration is proud to share the video: Tu Futuro, Tu Voz (Your Future, Your Voice), featuring four young adults from Central America who crossed into the United States as unaccompanied minors. This video was created as a resource for youth who are currently undergoing immigration proceedings, and the lawyers who represent them.

    Watch - here

    Pro Bono Opportunities

    Kindly complete this survey at your earliest convenience to receive information about volunteer opportunities with the ABA Commission on Immigration and its projects.

    Make a - Difference

    Defend Asylum Together! Essentials of Immigration Law for Effective Pro Bono Representation

    January 25-26, 2021 | Free CLE Webinar

    Did you know that most migrants seeking humanitarian protection in our immigration court system are unrepresented? This crisis is especially acute for migrants who are detained, and all migrants are much more likely to win relief if they are represented. This free, virtual CLE course seeks to recruit, train and empower volunteer attorneys to defend migrants and asylum seekers as part of their pro bono practice in 2021 and beyond. The training will leverage on-the-ground experts from inside and outside the ABA to train new or beginner pro bono attorneys in removal defense, with a focus on asylum, for detained adults and unaccompanied children.

    Register - Here

    Featured Publication - 2019 Update Report: Reforming the Immigration System

    Video Highlights

    About the Commission

    The Commission directs the Association’s efforts to ensure fair treatment and full due process rights for immigrants and refugees within the United States.

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