美国移民法庭中的大量案件当事人在没有律师代理的情况下应对遣返程序。在约3.2百万待决遣返案件中，52%的案件当事人缺乏法律代理[1]。这一现象带来了显著的后果差异：有律师代理的移民获得庇护或其他留美途径的成功率为47%，而没有律师代理的仅为19%[1]。
为了应对这一差距，加州的志愿律师项目正在萨克拉门托移民法庭提供援助。律师Kamalpreet Chohan通过填表指导、翻译协助和程序说明等方式帮助没有代理的移民应对复杂的法律系统[1]。法官Susan Phan在法庭上介绍了Chohan及其组织提供的服务，称这是一个"难得的机会"[1]。
移民获得法律代理面临多重障碍。移民必须自费雇律师（费用数千美元）或依靠非营利组织协助，但这些组织的等候名单很长[1]。此外，庇护申请本身需要支付102美元的费用[1]。特朗普政府第二任期内采取的"超级主日历"听证会制度进一步加剧了问题，该制度一次审理数十名被告，导致程序混乱[1]。
Approximately 52% of the roughly 3.2 million pending deportation cases in U.S. immigration courts involve individuals without legal representation, according to court data [1]. This disparity carries significant consequences: immigrants with lawyers succeed in securing asylum or other legal pathways to remain in the country at a rate of 47%, compared to just 19% for those without counsel [1].
The financial and logistical barriers to legal representation are substantial. Immigrants must either pay thousands of dollars to hire private attorneys or rely on nonprofit organizations for assistance, though these groups often maintain lengthy waiting lists [1]. An asylum application itself costs $102 [1]. Recognizing these challenges, volunteer lawyer programs operating in Sacramento's immigration court are attempting to bridge the gap. Attorney Kamalpreet Chohan helps unrepresented immigrants navigate the complex legal system through services including form completion guidance, translation assistance, and procedural explanations [1]. Judge Susan Phan characterized such programs as a "rare opportunity" when introducing the organization's services in court [1].
The need for assistance has become more urgent under recent policy changes. The Trump administration's second term has implemented "super docket" hearings that process dozens of defendants in single sessions, creating courtroom confusion that further disadvantages those without legal support [1].