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July 17, 2024

Statement of ABA President Mary Smith Re: Pro bono help in immigration matters

CHICAGO, July 17, 2024 – The American Bar Association remains concerned about the growing backlog of cases in the immigration courts, especially because many migrants lack representation by counsel. Studies have found that legal representation leads to increased court efficiency through improved appearance rates, presentation of more focused testimony and evidence, fewer requests for continuances and a smaller number of frivolous claims. This allows judges to make better informed and more expeditious rulings.

Expedited timelines for adjudicating cases have made early access to counsel increasingly important, particularly as representation rates continue to fall. 

Today the White House announced a call to action for members of the legal community, including law firms, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders to make commitments of pro bono support for those who are unrepresented in immigration proceedings. In response to this call, the American Bar Association is leveraging its existing resources to help and encourage more lawyers to provide pro bono support to unrepresented noncitizens in immigration proceedings

The ABA also encourages lawyers and law firms to answer this call. To assist, the ABA offers free online resources and toolkits, available here. Practitioners interested in helping an immigrant child or family in need of pro bono legal representation can find potential cases here: Pro Bono Matters for Children Facing Deportation.

The legal profession is uniquely qualified to help reduce the growing immigration court backlog by increasing access to pro bono counsel for those eligible. In doing so, we support our courts in operating more fairly and efficiently and we promote principles of due process fundamental to our legal system.

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on X (formerly Twitter) @ABANews.