Stopping Policies Endangering Immigration Attorneys, Clients, and the Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The American Immigration Council trains volunteer attorneys to represent people in detention through the Immigration Justice Campaign.

Through the Campaign, we know firsthand that there are real concerns about due process and health risks for migrants as coronavirus spreads throughout the nation. The Campaign—alongside the American Immigration Lawyers Association—is represented by our fellow plaintiffs National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild.

This lawsuit calls for the government to take the following measures: 

• Suspend in-person immigration hearings for detained individuals and provide robust remote access alternatives for detained individuals who wish to proceed with their hearings for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Guarantee secure and reliable remote communication between noncitizens in detention and their legal representatives.
• Provide Personal Protective Equipment for detained noncitizens and legal representatives who need to meet in person in facilities where PPE is required for entry.
• Alternatively, release detained immigrants who have inadequate access to alternative means of remote communication with legal representatives or with the immigration court.