News

During the last year, our community, work, and mission have been under attack, but we could fight back in the courts because of Berger Montague, the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, Democracy Forward, Fredrikson, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), and Stinson. These six law firms and organizations stepped forward at a critical time to challenge unlawful actions and defend human rights.

Stop the illegal detention of refugees (U.H.A., et al. v. Bondi, et al.) When the Trump administration was sending armed ICE agents door to door to arrest members of our refugee community, whisking them to detention centers in Texas, and interrogating them without access to attorneys in an effort to terminate their status and deport them, International Refugee Assistance Project, Berger Montague, and the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law sued, ending these abuses in Minnesota.

Ensure access to counsel (The Advocates for Human Rights, et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al.) - When ICE was holding people at the Whipple Building in overcrowded conditions, obstructing attorney-client meetings, denying phone access, and rapidly transferring individuals out of state, Fredrikson and Democracy Forward sued to protect due process, the rule of law, and human dignity.

Protect transparency in our immigration courts (The Advocates for Human Rights v. Blanche, et al.) – Without public oversight, government actors can violate human rights with impunity. After nearly 10 years of our immigration court observation project, our volunteers have had obstacles placed in their way, limiting their ability to monitor public proceedings. Stinson sued the government to protect due process, government transparency, and the First Amendment.

Defend basic legal protections (Hines Immigration Law PLLC, et al. v. Executive Office for Immigration Review, et al.) — When immigration proceedings for Somali nationals were accelerated on extremely short timelines, making it nearly impossible for attorneys to prepare cases or represent their clients, Democracy Forward sued to protect fundamental rights, including the right to counsel and a fair hearing.

We are grateful for their exceptional commitment and courage and are honored to present these organizations with Pro Bono Awards.