Congressman Dan Goldman Fights to Establish Right to Legal Counsel in Immigration Proceedings
Over One Million Immigrants Without Legal Representation Facing Threats of Deportation
Immigrants with Legal Representation 10 Times More Likely to Remain with Families and in Their Communities
Read the Bill Here
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) in introducing the ‘Fairness to Freedom Act’ to establish the right to legal representation for individuals facing removal from the United States who are unable to afford it themselves.
“When children are forced to represent themselves through complex immigration proceedings, we have failed to be the welcoming democracy we strive to be,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “After escaping often horrific conditions in their native countries, many children risk their lives in the hopes of a better future. Yet every day new immigrants are forced to defend themselves against deportation in a language and judicial system they often don’t understand. The right to legal counsel is foundational to our democracy and should extend to those coming here in search of the American Dream as well. No one should face life threatening consequences simply because they cannot afford legal representation.”
The ‘Fairness to Freedom Act’ would establish a legal right to representation in removal proceedings, at the very beginning of the process, for people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer. The bill would also establish the Office of Immigration Representation to ensure high-quality, universal representation, and require the government to facilitate representation for those currently held in detainment.
Currently, individuals unable to afford representation in immigration proceedings must represent themselves. Over one million people, including both adults and children, are currently facing deportation in immigration court without legal representation, while many more are removed without representation in summary proceedings that take place outside of the courtroom.
Immigrants with representation are up to 10 times more likely to avoid deportation than those without, and detained immigrants with representation are 3.5 times more likely to be granted bond, enabling their release from detention.
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