What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

American Bar Association Commission on Immigration, 1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, Ste 400, Washington D.C., DC (2026)

Guided by resolutions adopted by the American Bar Association House of Delegates, the Commission on Immigration works to coordinate and strengthen the ABA’s response to legal developments and to address the needs of immigrants and newcomers. Among our greatest concerns are the erosion of due process safeguards, the growing reliance on detention, and the lack of access to legal information and counsel for individuals in immigration proceedings, particularly unaccompanied immigrant children. The ABA Board of Governors has designated immigration to be a legislative priority of the ABA in each Congress since 1992. The ABA Board of Governors established a 13-member Commission on Immigration in August 2002, and a 10-member Advisory Committee to the Commission in 2005. The Commission works to achieve its goals through five major projects:

South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR):
Founded in 1989, ProBAR is a joint project of the ABA, the State Bar of Texas, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). ProBAR provides pro bono legal services and legal orientations for indigent, detained immigrants and asylum seekers in south Texas. Additionally, ProBAR assists detained unaccompanied immigrant children through representation and by training and coordinating the work of pro bono attorneys, and providing information to educate the children about their rights and the legal process. www.americanbar.org/probar

Immigration Justice Project of San Diego (IJP):
Initiated in 2008, the IJP aims to promote due process and access to justice at all levels of the immigration and appellate court system, through the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services for both detained and non-detained immigrants and asylum seekers in removal proceedings. In order to accomplish this, the IJP recruits, trains, and mentors volunteer attorneys and law students and provides Legal Orientation Programs for adult immigration detainees at the local immigration court and detention center. www.americanbar.org/ijp

Detention Standards Implementation Initiative (DSII):
DSII coordinates delegations of pro bono attorneys to visit detention centers to observe and report on conditions and to assess whether detainees have meaningful legal access. This initiative seeks to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Performance Based National Detention Standards at facilities housing immigrants and asylum seekers. http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_services/immigration/projects_initiatives/detention_standards_implementation_initiative.html

The Fight Notario Fraud Project:
The Fight Notario Fraud Project seeks to put an end to immigration consulting fraud by: 1) providing attorneys, and other individuals, with information on how to take action against notarios, 2) creating a library of consumer education, articles and legal documents relevant to reporting, or pursuing a case against, an immigration consultant, and 3) facilitating the referral of victims of immigration consulting fraud to pro bono attorneys who will to represent them in civil litigation. http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_services/immigration/projects_initiatives/fightnotariofraud.html

Detainee Correspondence Project:
The ABA is the only organization in the country that accepts calls and letters from all 250 detention facilities across the nation with a goal of ensuring that immigrants and asylum seekers detained by the ICE have access to basic information about their rights. The Commission on Immigration communicates with immigration detainees in ICE custody in detention centers, determining what information may assist them, and sending the appropriate materials. The ABA identifies specific complaints regarding the condition of immigration detention facilities and assists detainees to file complaints when facility conditions do not satisfy the detention standards. The ABA encourages you to participate and welcomes constructive engagement between members, provided your conduct is consistent with the ABA Code of Conduct: https://www.americanbar.org/about_the_aba/codeofconduct/

The posts (and any corresponding materials) and views on this page have not been approved by the ABA, the ABA Commission on Immigration, or their staff or governing bodies.

08/04/2026

Every child deserves to understand their rights.

Through the ABA South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, the ABA helps unaccompanied children navigate the immigration system by providing:
• Know Your Rights presentations
• Legal screenings
• Courtroom assistance
• Legal representation
• Pro bono legal services

These trauma-informed services help ensure children understand the legal process before life-changing decisions are made.

The ABA urges prompt payment of outstanding invoices for services already provided, some of which have remained unpaid since late 2025, so these critical services can continue uninterrupted.

07/31/2026

No child should face immigration proceedings without support.

Through its immigration projects, ABA attorneys and advocates provide legal services, pro bono screenings, Know Your Rights presentations, and other legal assistance that help children understand the process and exercise their rights.

The ABA urges prompt payment of outstanding invoices—some unpaid since late 2025—to help ensure these services remain available for children who need them most.

02/17/2026

Watch the recording of last week’s webinar "Dismantling the Bench: Firings, Fear, and the Future of Immigration Justice" sponsored jointly by the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and the COI: https://www.youtube.com/live/1n2BzBc9WEo

The American Bar Association has long called for the immigration court system to be moved from the Department of Justice to an independent Article I court to enhance independence from the executive branch. Recent firings of seasoned immigration judges, particularly those with prior experience representing immigrants, have raised serious concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and the integrity of our immigration court system.

According to news reports, approximately 100 immigration judges have been terminated, with some removals occurring abruptly and without any explanation — at a time when the immigration court backlog is at historic highs, exceeding three million pending cases. The COI has tracked data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s website at different points in time and it shows that in November 2024 there were 729 immigration judges, and on February 13, 2026, there were 523. These numbers reflect not only firings but also resignations and retirements, as well as some new hires. While the ABA cannot independently confirm this information, it was generated from government sources and demonstrates a concerning trend of significantly fewer immigration judges at a time of increased enforcement actions.

The webinar explored how these dismissals — often without clear justification — are affecting due process for immigrants and asylum seekers while undermining public trust in the courts. Viewers heard directly from former immigration judges and policy experts about the consequences of replacing experienced adjudicators with temporary military judges and hiring additional adjudicators who have been recruited as “deportation judges.” With a backlog of over 3 million cases and rising enforcement actions, the stakes for fairness and functionality in immigration proceedings have never been higher.

Panelists examined the legal, procedural, and human impacts of these changes, and what they signal for the future of immigration adjudication in the U.S. Watch this timely conversation on threats to the rule of law and concerns over ensuring that our immigration courts remain independent, impartial, and just.

Speakers:
💠 Karen Grisez – former Chair and Member, ABA Commission on Immigration
💠 Jeremiah Johnson – Vice President of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ); former Immigration Judge
💠 Kerry E. Doyle – Partner, Green and Spiegel LLC; former Immigration Judge

Moderator:
💠 Homero López, Jr. – Legal Director, Immigration Services & Legal Advocacy and Member, Commission on Immigration Advisory Committee

Watch the webinar recording in the link below!

Joint Sponsor: ABA Commission on ImmigrationThe American Bar Association has long called for the immigration court system to be moved from the Department of ...

12/23/2025

As the year comes to a close, we extend our sincere thanks to our incredible network of volunteers and supporters. Your time, dedication, and partnership make it possible to carry out this vital work and expand access to justice for immigrant communities across the country.

We are also deeply proud of our colleagues and partners at ABA South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, ABA Children's Immigration Law Academy, and ABA Immigration Justice Project of San Diego. Their commitment, collaboration, and leadership continue to make a meaningful difference every day.

Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season, and warm wishes for the year ahead.

12/22/2025

The ABA Commission on Immigration is seeking Spanish-speaking volunteers for the Safe City Baltimore Immigration Legal Screening Hotline, a remote opportunity that allows you to make a real impact on your own schedule. Volunteers support non-detained Baltimore City residents by conducting telephonic intakes and legal screenings related to immigration status and available resources.

✨ What to expect:
- Fully remote and flexible participation from anywhere in the country
- Each intake takes about 45 minutes
- Roles available for attorneys and non-attorneys
- No prior immigration experience required for Intake Volunteers
- 3+ years licensed immigration attorneys for Legal Screening Volunteers

🗣️ Spanish fluency is most needed, though other language skills may also be matched.

📚 Volunteers complete a short online training, approximately 1.5 hours, after registering. Interested in volunteering or sharing with your network? Please sign up using the link below and help expand access to reliable immigration information.

https://airtable.com/appOJxbGGONCqQb1c/pagwMSIQ3wcrueJ4Z/form

Address

1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, Ste 400
Washington D.C., DC
20036

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.americanbar.org/immigration

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when American Bar Association Commission on Immigration posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to American Bar Association Commission on Immigration:

American Bar Association Commission on Immigration