Why Fairness to Freedom?

Nobody should have to face the prospect of deportation alone simply because they can’t afford a lawyer. But unlike in the criminal legal system, people facing deportation from the United States do not have a right to legal representation at government expense if they can’t afford to hire an attorney. As a result, most immigrants facing detention and deportation who can’t afford a lawyer—including adults, children, and families—are forced to defend themselves in a highly complex area of the law against well-resourced government lawyers. The consequences of deportation can be devastating, including physical exile from home, separation from family and community, return to conditions of persecution and torture, and even death.

By passing the Fairness to Freedom Act and establishing universal representation for all people facing deportation, we can make sure that everyone has a fighting chance to understand their legal options, exercise their rights, and stay with their families and communities.