At a Glance: The BIA Project
• In 2005, 5,943 detained immigrants
had cases on appeal before the BIA.
Forty-three percent of these immigrants
did not have representation.
• Since the Project’s inception in 2001, it
has found representation for more than
400 individuals.
• The projected recruited more than 350
attorneys and BIA accredited
representatives to participate in the
Project.
• It involves nearly a dozen law schools
from across the country. Some law
schools developed clinics solely devoted
to representing detained asylum-
seekers with BIA appeals.
• In its short history, it provided trainings
to over 150 attorneys and law students.
• The Project generates quality briefs
that articulate the key issues on appeal,
which facilitates the Board’s review of a
case and leads to increased efficiency at
the Board.
had cases on appeal before the BIA.
Forty-three percent of these immigrants
did not have representation.
• Since the Project’s inception in 2001, it
has found representation for more than
400 individuals.
• The projected recruited more than 350
attorneys and BIA accredited
representatives to participate in the
Project.
• It involves nearly a dozen law schools
from across the country. Some law
schools developed clinics solely devoted
to representing detained asylum-
seekers with BIA appeals.
• In its short history, it provided trainings
to over 150 attorneys and law students.
• The Project generates quality briefs
that articulate the key issues on appeal,
which facilitates the Board’s review of a
case and leads to increased efficiency at
the Board.
GOVERNMENT REPORT PRAISES THE
PROJECT
In October 2004, the Department of
Justice conducted an independent
evaluation of the BIA Pro Bono Project,
finding it to be a highly successful
project. Of the 281 cases handled by the
project and evaluated by DOJ in its study,
113 resulted in BIA decisions that
favored the immigrant. With a 40 percent
success rate, immigrants who obtained
representation through the Project fared
far better than those without
representation, who only managed to
win their appeal 7% of the time over the
same period. In other words,
immigrants who had been provided
representation through the Project were
up to four times more likely to win a
favorable decision before the Board than
those without legal counsel.
PROJECT
In October 2004, the Department of
Justice conducted an independent
evaluation of the BIA Pro Bono Project,
finding it to be a highly successful
project. Of the 281 cases handled by the
project and evaluated by DOJ in its study,
113 resulted in BIA decisions that
favored the immigrant. With a 40 percent
success rate, immigrants who obtained
representation through the Project fared
far better than those without
representation, who only managed to
win their appeal 7% of the time over the
same period. In other words,
immigrants who had been provided
representation through the Project were
up to four times more likely to win a
favorable decision before the Board than
those without legal counsel.
Asylum seeker in detention awaiting his hearing.
| IN THIS ISSUE CASE STORY: THE DIFFERENCE REPRESENTATION CAN MAKE BACKGROUND ON THE BIA PRO BONO PROJECT STATISTICS ON REPRESENTATION HOW CLINIC HELPS DONATE ONLINE! Front Page |
