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Unaccompanied Minors in Immigration Court: The Critical Role of Legal Representation

This new COI explainer describes why legal representation is crucial for unaccompanied children in immigration court proceedings. Attorneys help children navigate complex applications for relief, ensuring they understand their rights and options. Without attorneys, children face significant challenges in participating in their cases, leading to unfair outcomes and increased vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation. Legal representation makes the process more efficient and helps judges more easily adjudicate cases, promoting due process and safeguarding children's rights.

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Executive Actions benefiting Mixed-Status Families and Graduates

We are proud to present another explainer video by COI Senior Legal Advisor Deena Sharuk on the Administration's executive actions to benefit mixed-status families and provide visas to those who graduated from U.S. colleges and universities. Find out who may be eligible, how they can prepare, and the potential impact these executive actions will have on qualifying immigrants. Remember, there is no application process available yet! Speak to a qualified immigration attorney or DOJ Accredited Representative if you have questions. More details will become available over the next few months.

"Securing the Border" Proclamation and Interim Final Rule

Watch this explainer video created by COI Senior Legal Advisor Deena Sharuk that provides basic information about the Administration's “Proclamation on Securing the Border” and its impact on asylum-seekers. Learn about how this executive action is being implemented at the U.S. southern border, who it applies to, and how it is being challenged in court.

Diverse Voices of the Immigration Bar: An ABA COI Video Series

We are excited to announce the release of our COI Diverse Voices of the Immigration Bar Video Series! The series focuses on lawyers who identify with the communities and clients whom they serve. The goal is to explore, through storytelling, diversity in immigration law; the challenges faced by diverse lawyers in this practice area; and advice about how to deal with these challenges. Through these videos, the Commission on Immigration hopes to contribute to normalizing a culture of openly discussing burnout and secondary trauma within law school settings, nonprofits, government agencies, and law firms.

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ABA CILA's Fact Sheet

Have questions about the realities of unaccompanied children arriving to the southern border? The ABA Children's Immigration Law Academy explains what's behind the headlines in its latest fact sheet.

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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.

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More Resources

Publications

Publications by the American Bar Association's Commission on Immigration

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COI's ABA Communities Page

Join our Communities page to connect with the COI! Sign into your ABA account to join.

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Related Organizations

This list, while not exhaustive, links to other organizations in the immigration advocacy community, which can assist in learning more about immigration and pro bono issues.

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National Immigration Legal Services Directory

Locate contact information for immigration legal service providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.

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Suggestions?

This list of resources, while not exhaustive, will assist you in learning more about immigration and pro bono issues. Do you know of other relevant sites of interest? Please contact us. We welcome your suggestions.

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Archived Resources

Archived resources from the ABA Commission on Immigration.