Dear John,

Immigrants show up for court.

That is the definitive conclusion of the American Immigration Council’s new special report, “Measuring In Absentia Removal in Immigration Court,” based on 11 years of government data tracking the rates at which immigrants appear for their court hearings.

For years, the government has used faulty data that undercounts appearance rates—and then relied on that data to justify restrictive and cruel immigration policies.

Here are five key findings from the report written in partnership with Ingrid Eagly, professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law, and Steven Shafer, managing attorney for the Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project:

• 83% of nondetained immigrants with completed or pending removal cases attended all their hearings. 
• 96% of nondetained immigrants represented by a lawyer attended all their hearings. 
• 15% of people ordered deported because they did not appear in court successfully reopened their cases and had their removal orders rescinded.
• Individuals who apply for relief from removal have especially high rates of appearance.
• The government’s method for measuring court appearances is inaccurate and perpetuates a false narrative on the frequency of missed court dates.

As the Biden administration considers how to reform the immigration system, the government must use facts—not false data—to ensure all immigrants have their fair day in court. 
 

Sincerely,

Comprehensive research on the U.S. immigration system is only possible because of your support. Make a gift today.

         

Immigration Impact | ImmigrationCouncil.org | unsubscribe
1331 G St. NW Suite 200, Washington, D.C., xxxxxx