1. Enhancing Legal Access
ERO
FACT SHEET
Enhancing Legal Access
Overview
Since early 2016, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), has been working to enhance individuals’ access to legal resources and representation while in ICE custody.
Efforts to enhance legal access at ICE detention facilities is managed by the ERO Legal Access Coordinator, who oversees and coordinates activities around the following focus areas:
increasing the availability of, and access to, self-help legal resources;
facilitating expanded availability of, and access to, legal group presentations conducted by pro bono legal service providers and the Executive Office for Immigration Review's (EOIR) Legal Orientation Program (LOP);
identifying and implementing best practices in facilitating detainees’ access to counsel and legal resources; and,
ensuring proper routing of, and providing assistance in resolving, questions and concerns related to legal access from stakeholders.
.Successes to Date
ERO set up the mailbox to receive inquiries about legal access issues. The Legal Access Team refers inquiries to the appropriate ERO Field Offices and assists with resolution if necessary. Stakeholders are also welcome to provide feedback, calling out issues of concern and assisting in identifing best practices.
ERO created and distributed to all over 72-hour detention facilities a “Detainee Access to Legal Resources: Facility Assessment Survey” to help map out existing legal access processes and to inform legal access best practices.
ERO worked closely with EOIR to develop a strategy for identifying potential sites for LOP expansion and to assist EOIR in
ensuring efficient LOP implementation.
ERO headquarters and the ERO Atlanta Field Office worked together closely to launch the video teleconference (VTC) program for confidential attorney/client meetings free of charge at the Stewart and Irwin Detention Facilities. The VTC system has significantly improved the level of communication between attorneys and their detained clients.
Fututure Future Vision
Ensure legal programming, including pro bono legal group presentations, volunteer self-help workshops, or LOPs, are available in all ICE over 72-hour detention facilities.
Enhance access to confidential attorney/client meetings by significantly increasing the availability of virtual technology, promoting attorney/client meeting scheduling processes, and exploring opportunities to expand in-person attorney/client meeting space.
Create training for facility staff, including dedicated law librarians and collateral duty staff, and explore utilizing volunteers to help ensure detainees can meaningfully access legal self-help materials.
Additional Information and Contacts
For more information on this topic, please submit inquiries to
June 2017