On January 22, the ABA Immigration Justice Project's lawyers were abruptly ordered by the DOJ to halt federally funded legal assistance programs for immigrants. This decision curtailed essential legal resources available for those facing deportation, including significant initiatives like the Legal Orientation Program and the Immigration Court Helpdesk. The ruling reflects broader changes in immigration policy under the Trump administration, which aims to expedite the removal of undocumented immigrants. The halted programs are critical, as many immigrants lack the means for private legal representation during their removal processes.
In a system with no right to court-appointed counsel, these are the only free legal resources available for many people whose lives and liberty are at stake in removal proceedings.
The DOJ directed legal services providers to immediately stop work on several legal access programs that use federal funds to assist people, families and children at risk of deportation.
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