There are some unique challenges to access to justice for immigrants in our country that can be significantly improved by some targeted reforms to improve due process protections and access to legal assistance. In particular, the CBF advocates that the Obama Administration should help ensure access to critical legal assistance for detained immigrants, many of whom have cases that involve literally life or death decisions. In furtherance of that goal, the Department of Homeland Security should promulgate the Immigration and Customs Enforcement National Detention Standards—which provide guidance on a range of issues related to detention conditions and detainee treatment—as regulations with the force of law.
The immigration adjudication and appellate review process is currently devoid of some of the most basic due process protections that we take for granted in our justice system. As an initial step, The CBF advocates that the Attorney General should quickly take steps to rescind the 2002 Board of Immigration Appeals: Procedural Reforms to Improve Case Management and adopt other recommendations from the American Bar Association to ensure due process in those cases.
For more information on The Chicago Bar Foundation's advocacy work on immigration, and how to get involved, please contact Danielle Hirsch at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 312-554-4952.
