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 and 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 the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), provide information to help you defend yourself in Immigration Court.

A. Immigration Bonds

This guide explains how to ask for release from detention through an immigration bond.

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B. Asylum, Withholding of Removal & Convention Against Torture

This guide explains how to apply for protection from deportation if you are afraid to return to your home country.

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C. Voluntary Departure & Removal

This guide explains how to ask for “voluntary departure” if you are not eligible for a defense against deportation or you decide to return to your home country.

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D. LPR Cancellation of Removal

This guide explains how to apply to “cancel” your deportation if you are a lawful permanent resident who is in deportation proceedings after being charged with a criminal offense or immigration violation.

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E. 10-Year Cancellation of Removal

This guide explains how to apply to “cancel” your deportation if you have lived in the U.S. for the past 10 years with “good moral character” and if you have a qualifying family member who will suffer exceptional and extremely unusual hardship if you are deported.

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F. Appeals

This guide explains how to ask for a different result if you lose your case in Immigration Court. It also explains how to respond if you win your case but the government files an appeal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

This guide provides an overview of how to prepare and what to expect in court.

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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.

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

For legal advice and additional resources, contact a legal services provider in your area. Check out a list of providers.
Do not sign anything you do not understand. If you have questions, call a legal services provider in your area.

For links to instructions and examples of forms, documents, and motions you will need to submit, visit ijl.fyi/mirc-resources

Need Printed Guides?

Print at Home or Office

Download individual guides and posters above, or click here to download all guides and posters in Spanish and English. Printing instructions are below.

Request a Professionally Printed Starter Pack

Want a ready-to-use set for your organization or community? Click here to request (form coming soon) a starter pack of professionally printed guides. This set includes ordering details for reprints directly from our partnered print shop.

We’d love to hear from you! If you have feedback on the Guides to Defending Yourself in Immigration Court, want to share how they’re being used, or have any questions, email us at info@immigrantjusticelab.org.

How to Print Guides—Booklet Style

1. Download the PDF

Click a rounded box above to open the guide or poster in Google Drive.
In Google Drive, click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right, then select Download.
Open the file in a PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download).

2. Set Up Booklet Printing

In Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to File > Print (or press Ctrl + P on Windows / Cmd + P on Mac).
Under Page Sizing & Handling, select Booklet and adjust the following settings:
- Booklet subset: Select Both Sides (for duplex printers) or Front side only (for manual flipping).
- Binding: Choose Left (left-to-right reading).
- Orientation: Set to Portrait.

3. Check Paper and Test Print

Load Letter size paper into your printer.
Print a test page (e.g., pages 1–4) to check alignment.

4. Print the Full Booklet

For duplex (double-sided) printers: Click Print, and the printer will auto-flip pages.
For non-duplex printers: Print the Front side only first. Reinsert pages as per printer instructions, then print the Back side only.

5. Fold & Staple

Fold pages along the center. Staple along the fold if needed.

Get in Touch

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.

Email: info@immigrantjusticelab.org

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.