Why take one of our cases?
Every day, thousands of detained immigrants nation-wide face deportation without the assistance of an attorney. These include recently arrived asylum seekers as well as individuals who have lived in the United States for years. Many are forced to leave children, spouses and other loved ones behind. In recent years, the federal government has stepped up arrests and deportations while compromising due process and human rights.
CAIR Coalition is the only organization that provides provides legal assistance to detained immigrants in Virginia and the western part of Maryland. In order to continue serving this vulnerable population, we need even more volunteer attorneys.
CAIR Coalition attorneys are committed to mentoring pro bono attorneys throughout their representation. We have a wealth of legal resources, sample briefs, court practice guidance and advice on how to navigate the immigration detention system.
Pro Bono Opportunities include:
INTAKE DAYS AT JAIL: This volunteer activity is a great opportunity for attorneys who don’t have the time to take a case involving full representation. A jail visit generally requires a full-day commitment, which includes travel time to the jail. Jail visit volunteers are also required to attend a hour-long training session prior to their first jail visit.
For more information and to volunteer for a jail visit, please email emma.epstein@caircoalition.org.
REPRESENTATION AT CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEWS AND PREPARATION OF A PAROLE APPLICATION: This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who has a limited amount of time or who does not want to litigate. The representative is allowed to speak with the asylum seeker prior to the interview to prepare him or her for the interview. The representative is then permitted to attend the interview. If the asylum seeker is found to have a “credible fear,” the representative will prepare a parole application requesting that the asylum seeker be released from detention while the Immigration Court procedure is pending.
For more information and to volunteer for a credible fear interview, please email bradley.jenkins@caircoalition.org.
REPRESENTATION OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS: During our jail visits, we encounter individuals in need of representation in their immigration case, including asylum or Convention Against Torture claims. In addition, long term residents detained as a result of crimes committed in the United States require representation to get their “second chance.” Often, individuals have lived in the U.S. since childhood and have U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident family members. CAIR Coalition also seeks pro bono attorneys to file habeas corpus petitions on behalf of individuals who are detained indefinitely and are eligible for release under the Supreme Court decision Zadvydas v. Davis.
Those attorneys who take a pro bono case will be paired with an experienced CAIR Coalition attorney who will mentor the attorney throughout the case.
Click here for information about specific detained individuals in need of pro bono legal assistance.
POLICY AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE WORK: CAIR Coalition periodically has opportunities to work on projects that focus on improving the government’s treatment of detained immigrants or promoting alternatives to detention and do not involve direct representation of detainees.
Please email liz.mcgrail@caircoalition.org for information about current opportunities involving policy and systemic change issues.