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This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

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Al Otro Lado

Pro Bono Bond Representation

Share the greatest gift this holiday season: represent a detained immigrant in bond proceedings to request their liberty from detention!

Posted June 22, 2020

Background & Context

Migrants are held in detention centers indefinitely where they are often forced to work for for-profit corporations while sometimes earning less than $3 an hour. In Immigration Court, an attorney may enter their appearance for the limited purpose of custody determination (or bond) proceedings to advocate for their immediate release. This is a great way for inexperienced pro bono attorneys to dip their toe into immigration court, and can make a huge difference to the clients. Right now, immigrants are at heightened risk of contracting the deadly coronavirus while held in immigration prisons while virus cases are skyrocketing. Requesting their liberty has never been more important.

Immediate Problem

While we rejoice for the impending end of the devastating racist immigration policies that the Trump administration implemented with complete disregard for the law, now is the time to unite our abilities in support of the vulnerable human beings who continue to be impacted by those policies. Many immigrants find themselves detained by ICE in an immigration detention center without bond. An attorney can file a motion for bond redetermination and ask the Court to set a bond amount so that the client may be released from custody. Winning a bond motion can reunite families, save clients from illness or inadequate care, and put clients on the path to win their cases in immigration court.

Work & Deliverables

Attorneys will write a short legal brief, gather evidence, and trial prep with their client for a custody redetermination hearing. Currently, many of the immigration courts are allowing telephonic appearances for bond proceedings. Therefore, most (if not all) of this volunteer opportunity can be done remotely.

This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 6-10 hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: We have a robust pre-recorded video series for bond representation as well as monthly live Q & A sessions with our lead attorneys.
  • Site-Preference: Remote
  • Open to Law Students: No
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Required Legal Expertise: None
  • Mentoring Provided: Yes
  • Supervision Provided: Yes
Al Otro Lado

We are a bi-national, social justice legal services organization serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. Our mission is to provide legal services and to uplift our immigrant communities by defending the rights of migrants against systemic injustices in the legal system. Our comprehensive cross-border programming and litigation work integrate trauma-informed practices. We engage vital partnerships and thousands of volunteers to provide essential legal services to migrants at the Southern Border in Tijuana and throughout Southern California. Al Otro Lado’s work is also centered in fighting for all families that have been torn apart by unjust immigration laws.

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