Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center

Direct representation: pirc provides direct representation and pro se assistance to indigent immigrants through the national qualified representative program (nqrp), the pennsylvania family unity project (paifup), the unaccompanied children's program (ucp), and to other particularly vulnerable populations (pvp). Nqrp provides legal representation for detained immigrants determined by the immigration court to be incompetent to represent themselves due to mental illness or other capacity limitations. These cases are complex due to additional communication and comprehension barriers as well as the lack of resources available to this population. Secondly, pirc provides defense against deportation through the paifup collaborative project jointly with nationalities service center and hias-pa. This program seeks to bring universal representation to detained immigrants in removal proceedings in pa. Cases are selected on a merits-blind basis, screened only for income related and residence eligibility. The long-term goal is to scale the project using data and efficacy to show the significant difference that representation makes to individuals facing deportation without counsel. In 2024 pirc also began representation of unaccompanied children facing deportation in our region under the ucp. Finally, pirc presents other select cases based on particular vulnerabilities such as illiteracy, limited english language proficiency, and trauma from past persecution or torture. In 2024, pirc staff provided pro se assistance or direct representation before dhs or eoir to 73 individuals facing detention and/or deportation.

Legal orientation program (lop): pirc staff educate and empower immigrants in detention throughout pa through the legal orientation program by providing critical information so they can make informed decisions about their legal cases and future. The lop educates detained immigrants through the provision of group legal presentations, self-help workshops, and individual orientations about what to expect in immigration court, their legal rights, and potential legal options/relief against deportation. For approximately 86% of detained immigrants in removal proceedings, lop services are the only legal assistance they will receive before appearing pro se in immigration court. In 2024, pirc provided group general legal orientations to 1102 individuals detained in pa. Additionally, pirc provided individualized orientations to 279.

Unaccompanied children program