Migrants are held in detention centers indefinitely where they are often forced to work for for-profit corporations while sometimes earning less than $3 an hour. In Immigration Court, an attorney may enter their appearance for the limited purpose of custody determination (or bond) proceedings to advocate for their immediate release. This is a great way for inexperienced pro bono attorneys to dip their toe into immigration court, and can make a huge difference to the clients. Right now, immigrants are at heightened risk of contracting the deadly coronavirus while held in immigration prisons while virus cases are skyrocketing. Requesting their liberty has never been more important.

While we rejoice for the impending end of the devastating racist immigration policies that the Trump administration implemented with complete disregard for the law, now is the time to unite our abilities in support of the vulnerable human beings who continue to be impacted by those policies. Many immigrants find themselves detained by ICE in an immigration detention center without bond. An attorney can file a motion for bond redetermination and ask the Court to set a bond amount so that the client may be released from custody. Winning a bond motion can reunite families, save clients from illness or inadequate care, and put clients on the path to win their cases in immigration court.

Attorneys will write a short legal brief, gather evidence, and trial prep with their client for a custody redetermination hearing. Currently, many of the immigration courts are allowing telephonic appearances for bond proceedings. Therefore, most (if not all) of this volunteer opportunity can be done remotely.