Immigration court legal aid program

The article reports on the 'Attorney of the Day' program in Sacramento, California, coordinated by lawyer Kamalpreet Chohan of the National Immigration Project. The program sends volunteer lawyers to immigration courts to assist unrepresented immigrants. Under the second Trump administration, immigration courts have become more stringent, with increased asylum denials, arrests in court hallways, and packed courtrooms. Data from the Vera Institute of Justice shows that 52% of the 3.2 million pending deportation cases lack legal representation. A United States — Congressional Research Service study found that only 19% of unrepresented immigrants won asylum compared to 47% of those with lawyers. The article highlights the challenges immigrants face, including scams by fraudulent lawyers, and the importance of legal representation in navigating the complex system.