- 17
- May
2013
It is not the same as the right to an attorney for a criminal suspect who cannot afford one, but it's a start. Certain immigrants facing deportation proceedings now have the opportunity to obtain free representation before the courts as they fight their cases.
A federal court judge recently issued that decree, making it the law for California. At about the same time, the U.S. Department of Justice codified the right as a matter of policy for the whole country. The action could have significant implications for many facing issues related to complex deportation proceedings.