Immigrants struggle to get lawyers while immigration-related prosecutions soar

Immigration-related prosecutions are on the rise, while immigrants are struggling to find legal representation.

A survey by the Executive Office for Immigration Review found 58% of immigrants nationwide going to immigration-related cases without a lawyer, the Los Angles Times reported (here).

Immigrants can face deportation, family separation and political persecution and, without an attorney, they won't be able to understand the complexities of immigration law to do what's necessary, attorney Judy London of the L.A. pro bono law firm Public Counsel told the Times.

Advocates want a public defender program, while the federal government, law firms and non-profits are trying to increase pro bono representation, according to the Times.

Meanwhile, legally foreign immigrants with felony records are being prosecuted in record fashion in Southern California.

There have been 657 federal prosecutions this fiscal year, a 20 percent increase since last year, and the final total is expected to show a 400 percent increase over the 135 cases in 2000-2001, The Sun in San Bernardino  reported (here).