Immigrants Demand Access to Lawyers in Immigration Court Ahead of Bill Hearings

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Steps outside the Maryland statehouse, immigrant families and leading advocacy organizations hold a press conference highlighting the need for the bill Access to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings. This crucial bill provides Marylanders in ICE detention who are facing deportation access to a lawyer in immigration court.

House hearing for HB114 is scheduled for 1PM on February 2, 2022, while the Senate hearing for SB129 is the following day, at 1PM on February 3, 2022. Some immigrants speaking at the press conference will also testify at the hearings – all to share how legal representation, or lack of legal representation, has made a tremendous difference in their immigration case, lives, and lives of their families.

WHAT: Press conference before the House hearing for HB114 Access to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings

WHEN: February 2, 2022 @ 9:30 AM

WHERE: Lawyers Mall in Annapolis [outdoor event]

WHO: Immigrants who have faced or are facing deportation proceedings from CASA, Bill sponsors: Senator Shelly Hettleman (D11) and Delegate Nicole Williams (D22), other leading advocacy groups

RSVP: For more information on the actions, please contact Jossie Flor Sapunar at 240-706-2624.

This bill provides low-income Marylanders in immigration detention access to state-funded representation in their deportation proceedings, ensuring that they get due process and increasing the chances they can remain in Maryland with their families. It also ensures that detained immigrants and their families understand their rights and are supported in a holistic way by designating community groups to conduct outreach and education with communities impacted by immigration detention (know your rights training, establishing neighborhood defense committees, receiving referrals to support services, etc). Furthermore, the bill assigns the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) to coordinate the funding of legal services of this program. MLSC is a legislatively created, non-profit organization that has four decades of experience funding legal services. Find stats and other details about the bill.

Advocates will live tweet the House and Senate hearings using #ImmigrantAccess2Counsel.

With over 122,000 lifetime Latino, immigrant, and working-class members across 46 US states, CASA is the foremost immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region and a national leader in supporting immigrant families and ensuring that all individuals have the core supports necessary for full participation in society. Now a national immigrant powerhouse, CASA creates change with its powerbuilding model blending human services, community organizing, and advocacy in order to serve the full spectrum of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall.