Resources for Representing Detained Immigrants

NIJC’s asylum manual provides an overview of the U.S. asylum process and provides basic guidelines for attorneys representing asylum seekers.

An index of documents immigration legal practitioners may use as a starting place for research.

At-a-glance guide to the removal defense process.

In order to obtain criminal records for an individual you should contact the court clerk for the county where the case was tried.

NIJC's guide to help immigration practitioners when an existing client is detained by ICE within the Chicago Detained Immigration Court.

Templates for planning and notetaking for master calendar, bond, and merits hearings before the immigration court.

Experts from the National Immigrant Justice Center cover the basics of representing detained immigrants in Immigration Court for practitioners who have already taken a course on removal proceedings.

This manual and Illinois crimes chart covers immigration consequences for Illinois crimes and provides defense attorneys with tools to zealously advocate for non-citizen clients in criminal court.

These questions are meant to supplement NIJC’s quick-start guide on voluntary departure. Practice around voluntary departure (VD) is variable depending […]

Voluntary departure (VD) is a way for someone to avoid an order of removal on their record by agreeing to leave the U.S. at their own expense while meeting certain conditions. Voluntary departure is a benefit available to detained and non-detained individuals seeking to return to their home country. Voluntary departure is especially useful for people who may have a legal pathway to return to the U.S., such as a family petition. In some cases, it may be the only relief available, but in other cases, the government may use it as leverage to convince someone to waive their rights or waive other relief when it is of little to no help.

Use this quick start guide and checklist to prepare for a bond hearing for someone who has been detained by the Department of Homeland Security

Recent caselaw has dramatically chipped away at access to bond in removal proceedings. This training will cover shifting caselaw, court […]

Sample bond motion for a detained client with no convictions.

NIJC experts provide an overview of representing detained immigrants in bond proceedings for practitioners looking to take on their first bond case, pro bono attorneys seeking quick impactful cases or anyone looking for a refresher.

Use this quick-start guide to understand when a detained immigrant might be eligible to seek a motion to reopen their removal proceedings, including a checklist to prepare the motion.

A curated list of resources for attorneys filing motions to reopen removal proceedings and stays of removal.

This training provides a basic review of motions to reopen removal proceedings, filing stays of removal, & tips for rapid-response cases where ICE may be moving quickly to deport someone post-order.

This guide provides a general overview of prolonged immigration detention and strategies for release.