The Immigration Justice Campaign

The mission of the AILA/American Immigration Council's Immigration Justice Campaign (Campaign) is to fight for due process and justice for detained noncitizens by strengthening the army of lawyers who are ready to vigorously defend their rights in court. To do this, we must give AILA members more removal defense and litigation trainings and bring new pro bono allies to the fight.

Together, we will build new partnerships and make our collective voices stronger.

AILA Fearless Lawyering

The Campaign is investing in education, giving AILA members the cutting-edge tools and tactics they need to fearlessly challenge the dysfunction and disregard for due process that lawyers and their clients face every day in immigration court. We'll help you upend many traditional practices in order to use every available tool including trial practice strategies and federal court litigation to protect individual rights and challenge the growing deportation machine. As a result, we are offering more free and low-cost trainings than ever before.

Volunteering and Advocacy

The demand for representation in immigration court far outstrips the supply of attorneys trained to defend immigrants in removal proceedings. Currently, more than half of all individuals in immigration court appear without legal representation and 80% of detained immigrants have no lawyers. Thousands of detained immigrants in dire need of legal assistance would go without representation but for life-saving pro bono work, especially in remote locations. AILA members have and will continue to lead by example in pro bono work on behalf of the most vulnerable immigrants. But they cannot possibly shoulder the burden alone. With new pro bono partners, we will maximize our efforts and amplify our voices for advocacy as a united front.

Are you a new member? Are you new to removal defense? Volunteering with the Campaign is for you! Building upon our substantial experience in mobilizing and deploying volunteers at the family detention center in Dilley, Texas, the Campaign is testing new ways to scale and support quality pro bono representation for detained immigrants who would otherwise go unrepresented. In partnership with strong local legal service providers, the Campaign is focusing on innovative mentorship and education strategies to engage, train and support volunteer lawyers new to immigration removal defense.

Are you an experienced removal defense practitioner? Learn more about the Campaign's innovative mentorship model, designed to value mentors' time and contributions in new ways.

Take your fearless lawyering further and join the Campaign today as a volunteer attorney or mentor.