Removal defense involves representing and advocating for immigrants facing deportation from the United States. For many immigrants facing removal from the United States, the process involves appearing before an immigration judge in immigration court. Most immigrants cannot afford to have an attorney represent them in court. Sadly, legal representation is the single most important factor in determining whether someone will win or lose their case.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) builds the capacity of practitioners to represent clients in immigration court proceedings. As national experts in immigration law, the ILRC publishes a hands-on comprehensive manual, Removal Defense: Defending Immigrants in Immigration Court, and offers trainings on this topic. We also support practitioners and pro bono attorneys in their specific cases through our Attorney of the Day (AOD) technical assistance service.

Latest in Removal Defense

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A Step By Step Guide To Completing FOIA Requests With DHS

09/08/2020
Family-Based
Removal Defense
A FOIA request can be an invaluable tool in immigration law to help an immigrant and her representative. This guide details how to complete a FOIA request for USCIS, ICE, OBIM, and CBP. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete Form G-639 and also also includes tips about alternatives to Form G-639, such as online submission options.
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Practice Alert: Matter of Reyes, 28 I&N Dec. 52 (A.G. 2020)

08/24/2020
Crimes
Detention
Removal Defense
Post-Conviction Relief
On July 30, 2020, Attorney General Barr issued Matter of Reyes , 28 I&N Dec. 52 (A.G. 2020), a case involving a longtime lawful permanent resident with a single conviction for violating a larceny statute that criminalizes both theft and fraud, and is indivisible as between these means of commission. She had been sentenced to over one year in prison and there was an established loss amount of...
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Resources for Challenging Matter of Thomas & Matter of Thompson

08/13/2020
Crimes
Removal Defense
Detention
Post-Conviction Relief
In October 2019, Attorney General Barr issued Matter of Thomas & Matter of Thompson , altering the standard for when immigration law will recognize a criminal sentencing modification. Since then, government attorneys from ICE and adjudicators from DHS and DOJ have misused and exploited the decision to incorrectly impose immigration consequences on vacated and modified past convictions and...

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