ABA will partner with White House to recruit more pro bono immigration attorneys
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The Biden administration on Wednesday called on the legal community to increase its pro bono representation of individuals who are unrepresented in immigration proceedings.
The request came with several other actions announced by the administration to advance educational opportunities for Latino communities and increase fairness in the country’s immigration system. And in response, the ABA will leverage its resources to encourage more lawyers to get involved in immigration pro bono matters.
“The legal profession is uniquely qualified to help reduce the growing immigration court backlog by increasing access to pro bono counsel for those eligible,” ABA President Mary Smith said in a statement on Wednesday. “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.”
Smith noted that the ABA Commission on Immigration provides free online resources and toolkits. Practitioners interested in helping an immigrant child or family can also find potential cases on its Pro Bono Matters for Children Facing Deportation portal.
“The American Bar Association remains concerned about the growing backlog of cases in the immigration courts, especially because many migrants lack representation by counsel,” Smith said. “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.”
The ABA has expressed deep concerns with Biden’s June 4 executive order that would curb asylum eligibility for migrants who illegally cross the southern border during peak periods. Smith released a statement that the association “strongly opposes” the order.
The Biden administration also announced on Wednesday that it would create a new leadership position focused on improving access to the immigration system and double the number of locations for the Executive Office of Immigration Review’s “Attorney of the Day,” program, which makes volunteer lawyers available in immigration courtrooms.
See also:
ABA launches nationwide pro bono campaign to help families facing deportation
ABA ‘strongly opposes’ Biden’s executive order restricting asylum; ACLU readies lawsuit
