US immigration courts face surge in unrepresented deportation cases

A significant number of immigrants in the United States are facing deportation proceedings without legal representation. According to an analysis by the Vera Institute of Justice, approximately 52% of the roughly 3.2 million pending deportation cases in U.S. immigration courts involve individuals without an attorney.

Unlike criminal courts, immigration courts do not guarantee government-funded legal counsel. This lack of representation poses high risks, as a 2024 Congressional Research Service study found that only 19% of unrepresented individuals successfully obtained asylum or other forms of relief, compared to a 47% success rate for those with lawyers.

Legal aid programs, such as one coordinated by lawyer Kamalpreet Chohan, are working to provide volunteer attorneys to assist those navigating the complex system. The pressure on the court system is increasing due to the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, which has seen courts packed to reduce backlogs and shortened hearing timelines, often leading to missed appointments.