Guides to Defending Yourself in Immigration Court
Have you or someone you know been detained by immigration officials? Have you or someone you know been given a notice to appear in immigration court?
It is very important to get a lawyer to help you with your case. However, there are many people who cannot afford a lawyer or cannot find a lawyer who will help them at no cost. If you find yourself in this situation, these guides, developed by a team of experienced lawyers from MIRC, provide information to help you defend yourself in Immigration Court.
Before submitting an application
Before submitting an application for any form of relief or defense against deportation, review all government instructions.
Paper copies of government forms, lists of local attorneys, and additional resources might be available at a Self-Help Legal Center at the Immigration Court. If the court where your case will be heard also has an Immigration Court Helpdesk, you can ask for assistance there.
If you need help
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For legal advice and additional resources, contact a legal services provider in your area. Check out a list of providers.
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If you are detained in Michigan, you have a right to call the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center confidential detention line for free. Ask a jail official for instructions.
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Do not sign anything you do not understand. If you have questions, call a legal services provider in your area.
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For links to instructions and examples of forms, documents, and motions you will need to submit, visit ijl.fyi/mirc-resources
IMPORTANT: The Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) did not author these guides. None of the information in these guides should be seen as legal advice. Please consult with an attorney about your individual case, especially if you have a criminal record in any country.
The Guides to Defending Yourself in Immigration Court were produced by the Immigrant Justice Lab with support and collaboration from the Carceral State Project at the University of Michigan and in partnership with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
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These materials may be distributed freely under a creative commons license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
If you are a legal practitioner or a representative of a non-profit or community organization and you would like to alter these guides for use with your local population, we are delighted to discuss that option with you.