1. Immigrant Legal Defense Project
The Immigrant Legal Defense Project provides pro bono removal defense legal representation to individuals facing removal (deportation) proceedings in San Diego, Otay Mesa, and Imperial Immigration Courts. The project focuses on lawfully obtaining legal status for its clients, getting individuals released from immigration detention, protecting due process rights, and keeping families together through full and limited-scope removal defense, including immigration, probate, and federal court representation.
a. Available Services:
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- Removal defense in immigration court (EOIR);
- Relief applications (including asylum, VAWA, U/T visas, SIJ classification, cancellation of removal);
- Appealsand Petitions for Review (BIA and Ninth Circuit) (case-dependent and on limited occasions); and
- Custody redetermination (including bond) and habeas (case-dependent).
b. Who is Eligible for Services Under this Project:
Unaccompanied children, detained, and non-detained low-income noncitizens facing removal (deportation) proceedings in San Diego, Otay Mesa, and Imperial Immigration Courts. Requests for services are reviewed in the order received.
c. How to Request Services From this Project:
2. Navigating Immigration Court Project
The Navigating Immigration Court project provides information and limited support to non-detained individuals who are in removal (deportation) proceedings but do not have an attorney. This project provides practical guidance and legal education, and equips unrepresented individuals with knowledge to better understand and navigate the removal process in immigration court.
a. Participants Receive:
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- General education on their rights and responsibilities, and how immigration court works (including types of hearings and possible outcomes);
- Basic high-quality legal information about potential forms of relief and next steps;
- One-on-one consultationswith trusted legal service providers to assess their case and answer questions honestly; and
- If capacity allows, pro se (on your own behalf) limited-scope support, such as help with forms, change of address, potential motions, court preparation and potential accompaniment.
The goal is to empower unrepresented individuals to move their cases forward with accurate information and greater confidence, especially when full legal representation is not available.
*Please note that this project does not provide full legal representation and we encourage individuals to continue to search for a full scope attorney. However, if participants desire, case can be referred to ILRP’s Immigrant Legal Defense Project for consideration for full removal defense representation. Representation is not guaranteed.
b. Who is Eligible for Services Under this Project:
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- Non-detained unrepresented individuals who live in San Diego County facing removal (deportation) proceedings.
c. How to Request Services From this Project:
3. Community Immigration Support Project
The Community Immigration Support Project supports urgent immigration legal needs in the community. The team helps operate the Immigration Legal Services Coalition of San Diego (ILSC) phone line, provides initial response and triage for individuals recently detained by immigration enforcement or facing an imminent risk of detention.
a. To Request Urgent Immigration Legal Services:
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- Call ILSC Hotline: (858) 751-7553, Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm
Additionally, the team conducts community legal and resource education, leads legal workshops and walk-in clinics at K–12 schools and partner organizations, and provides accompaniment to ICE check-in appointments, as capacity allows.
a. To Request Workshop or Walk-in clinic support, please complete the this online form or call (858) 637-3365.
