Category: Free Attorney

Where to find Pro Bono or Free Legal Services for Immigrants in Nebraska

5/22/2025

If you are an immigrant and looking for free or reduced fee legal help, you can inquire in your state Bar Association for local referrals. In different states, there are various resources available to you at no fee or reduced fee, based on your income. There are Hotlines and Free Legal Aid clinics for low-income individuals all over the country.

In addition, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Office of Policy, Public Resources Program (PRP) administers the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers or the “List."

The List contains information on non-profit organizations and attorneys who can help without a fee. The List also contains information on pro bono referral services that refer individuals in immigration court proceedings to pro bono counsel.

Here is the EOIR List.

MEANING OF "PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES"
Pro Bono legal services are “those uncompensated legal services performed for indigent aliens or the public good without any expectation of either direct or indirect remuneration, including referral fees (other than filing fees or photocopying and mailing expenses).” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.61(a)(2).

RESOURCES IN NEBRASKA:

Free Legal Aid of Nebraska
https://www.legalaidofnebraska.org/
https://www.legalaidofnebraska.org/how-we-help/resources/immigrants/

Phone 402-348-1069

Phone (Toll-Free)1-888-991-9921

Nebraska Access
https://nebraskaccess.nebraska.gov/websites/legalaid.asp

Nebraska Free Legal Answers
https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/

Nebraska Low Income Legal Assistance
https://www.nefindalawyer.com/guide/59727ff7f36a56002e00039a/Low-Income-Legal-Assistance.html

Immigration Clinic in Lincoln, NE
https://law.unl.edu/immigration-clinic/

Catholic Charities of Omaha
https://ccomaha.org/immigration-legal-services/
For appointments at the St. Juan Diego Center please call 402.939.4615.

CLIA Center for Legal Immigration Assistance
https://www.clianeb.org/become-a-client

National Immigration Legal Services Directory for Nebraska:
https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/organization.393089-Immigrant_Legal_Center_ILC
Phone:
(402) 898-1349
Toll-free:
(855) 307-6730

NILAH Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline
https://ciraconnect.org/contact-us/
Phone 1-855-307-6730

0 Comments

Immigration Court Backlog Reached a Breaking Point of 3.2 million cases

2/5/2024

0 Comments

Immigrants are now far more likely to face the complexities of the immigration court system alone, without an attorney. As of December 2023, only 30% of immigrants with pending cases have immigration attorneys, down from 65% just four years ago. There are not enough judged and immigration courts.

This new data comes from Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). On January 24, TRAC published data showing that representation rates at U.S. immigration courts have decreased significantly. These trends highlight concerns about migrants’ ability to obtain an attorney to navigate our immigration system.

Federal law generally provides immigrants the right to secure legal representation before federal immigration agencies, but immigrants must pay the cost—or secure the assistance of a pro bono (free) attorney, if they can find one. There is no right to have a free lawyer in Immigration Court.

he assistance of an attorney can be crucial to succeeding in one’s case. For example, in removal proceedings, immigrants not subject to immigration detention are five times more likely to obtain relief if they are represented. Attorneys also contribute to efficiencies in removal proceedings, including fewer hearings and more successful claims.

Cases before the immigration courts have grown substantially in the last decade. In 2013, there were 344,230 pending cases. Now the backlog stands at more than 3.2 million cases.

This is the result of many reasons. Recently, however, as undocumented migrant arrivals increase, a dramatic increase in newly filed cases during the past year--nearly 1.5 million—are causing concern about whether the supply of immigration attorneys can meet the current demand by asylum seekers.

In addition, many of those filing the asylum claims, don't see it necessary to consult or hire an attorney. Many migrants who spent US$15,000-$50,000 and more to travel to the USA to illegally cross the Southern border (many arriving from Asia or Europe), incorrectly assume that the lawyer will be provided to them for free, or take for granted that their status will be approved, or simply don't care as long as they are in the USA. Often, ethical attorneys refuse representation when the prospective clients have no legitimate claim for immigration benefits besides being interested in living in the United States. As a result, currently, only about 30% of immigrants with cases in Immigration Court have attorneys.

There is a deep and growing crisis at the Southern border, affecting our already ineffective immigration system, and creating many national security risks.

0 Comments

Information in Russian: how to apply for adjustment of status or green card in the U.S.

12/8/2018

0 Comments

Information in Russian: how to apply for adjustment of status in the U.S. Brief overview, including recent changes, effective October 1st and November 19th, 2018.

Информация по русски о том, как подать заявление на грин карту, разрешение на работу и на поездки за границу, не выезжая из США.

(1) Первое видео - информация о грин-карте - краткий обзор с учетом недавних изменений в законе:
ВИДЕО О ГРИН-КАРТЕ

(2) Второе видео - продолжение о разрешении на работу и на поездки - как избежать ошибок, отказа или передачи дела на депортации, после новых изменений, которые вступили в силу с 1 октября и 19 ноября 2018:
ПРОДОЛЖЕНИЕ О РАЗРЕШЕНИИ НА РАБОТУ И ПОЕЗДКИ.

0 Comments

NY State to Provide Free Lawyers to Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation in Immigration Court

4/13/2017

1 Comment

State of New York becomes first in the nation to provide FREE lawyers for ALL DETAINED immigrants who are facing deportation.

New York has become the first state in the United States to ensure that no immigrant is deported and permanently separated from his family solely because of the inability to afford a lawyer.

Without lawyer's assistance, only 3% of detained and unrepresented immigrants avoid deportation (and 97% are deported), but providing public defenders can improve an immigrant’s chance of winning and remaining in the United States, if an immigrant is eligible for residency or other forms of relief.

The newly created Liberty Defense Project's annual budge is $11.5 million, which is partially funded by the state of NY (US$10 million) and by private funds (Carnegie Corporation and Ford Foundation).

A statewide coalition of 182 advocacy organizations, 14 law schools, 21 law firms and 14 bar associations will be coordinated by the State’s Office for New Americans to provide pro bono legal services to immigrants. More than 200 experienced attorneys and paralegals will volunteer their time and work together so that immigrants are better aware of their legal options and are provided greater access to representation.

The Vera Institute Universal Representation of Immigrants Facing Deportation project.

Read more here.

In Russian:

Штат Нью Йорк первый в США вводит новую программу, Liberty Defense Project, по которой ВСЕ иммигранты, задержанные иммиграционной полицией и находящиеся в заключении до суда, с делом переданным на депортацию в иммиграционный суд, будут иметь право на БЕСПЛАТНОГО иммиграционного адвоката.

По статистике только 3% из иммигрантов, не имеющих адвоката в делах о депортации в иммиграционном суде, могут успешно убедить судью и остаться в США (а остальные 97% депортируют). Согласно данным проекта Сиракузского университета TRAC, 98.5% женщин с детьми без адвоката в США были депортированы.

Штат Нью Йорк первый в США предложил такую программу для того, чтобы предоставить шанс и реальную возможность защиты своих интересов по принципу due process тем иммигрантам, у кого нет денег нанять своего адвоката. Это поможет предотвратить депортации тем, кто может остаться в США по воссоединению с семьей, по полит убежищу и т.п.

Этот новый проект назвали Проектом защиты свободы (Liberty Defense Project). Средства на финансирование организации идут частично из бюджета штата (10 миллионов долларов), и из корпорации Карнеги (Carnegie Corporation) и фонда Форда (Ford Foundation). Частные корпорации выделили дополнительно $1.5 миллиона, так что в настоящий момент общая сумма проекта составила $11.5 миллионов.

Проект Защиты Свободы будет работать с 182 адвокатскими группами, а также с 14 юрфаками, 21 юридическими фирмами и 21 ассоциаций адвокатов для предоставления адвокатов иммигрантам.

Кроме The Vera Institute, финансирование в рамках проекта помощи иммигрантам получат Латиноамериканская федерация (Hispanic Federation), Католическая благотворительная общественная служба в Нью-Йорке (Catholic Charities Community Services Archdiocese of NY), Нью-Йоркская иммиграционная коалиция (New York Immigration Coalition), Коалиция Северного Манхэттена за права иммигрантов (Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrants Rights) и организация Empire Justice Center.

Следует помнить, что это пока возможно только в штате Нью-Йорк, и только для тех иммигрантов, кто задержан или арестован ICE.

#immigration #immigrationlawyer #freeimmigrationlawyer #attorney #immigrationattorney #freeimmigrationattorney #deportation #removal #NY #LibertyDefenseProject

1 Comment

Where to find Pro Bono or Free Legal Services for Immigrants in Nebraska

Immigration Court Backlog Reached a Breaking Point of 3.2 million cases

Information in Russian: how to apply for adjustment of status or green card in the U.S.

NY State to Provide Free Lawyers to Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation in Immigration Court

Author

Archives

Categories