S.F. Bar Association seeks more immigration lawyers amid ICE arrests
Organizations are seeking more volunteer immigration attorneys in the San Francisco and Concord immigration courts as immigration officials make more arrests, the National Lawyers Guild of San Francisco said Friday.
The organization, which posted the request on behalf of the Bar Association of San Francisco, said volunteer attorneys are needed 'now more than ever' to provide legal help to immigrants during Executive Office for Immigration Review dockets.
The plea for help comes days after 15 people — including a 3-year-old child — were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during their scheduled check-ins at the agency's San Francisco office.
Last week, four people were arrested at the San Francisco Immigration Court by ICE agents waiting in the lobby. The arrests marked a first in taking immigrants into custody who were actively and legally attending immigration court, said advocates, who vowed to fight the detentions.
Among those arrested at the courthouse was Miguel Angel Lopez, a father of three and grandfather of one, who had been living in Livermore for 27 years and pursuing his permanent residency, his wife, Rosa Lopez, said.
The National Lawyers Guild said ICE officials are moving to have immigration cases dismissed in order to arrest and rapidly deport people.
The Bar Association of San Francisco asked lawyers who are willing to volunteer — as legal representatives in immigration courts or for unrepresented immigrants who call the organization's Attorney of the Day hotline — to contact them.
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