--- title: "California programme provides lawyers for immigrants facing deportation" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/california-programme-provides-lawyers-for-immigrants-facing-deportation" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/california-programme-provides-lawyers-for-immigrants-facing-deportation" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/california-programme-provides-lawyers-for-immigrants-facing-deportation.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/california-programme-provides-lawyers-for-immigrants-facing-deportation" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-09T12:46:35.692Z" source_reported: "2026-08-09T11:38:12.000Z" updated: "2026-08-09T12:46:35.692Z" trust_score: 74 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-09T12:45:28.232242+00:00" --- # California programme provides lawyers for immigrants facing deportation *Volunteer attorneys help navigate a system where half of pending cases lack legal representation* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 74 of 100, higher is better. Includes named sources, cited data, and origin‑stated figures, but lacks multiple independent outlets. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Explains stakes, quotes affected parties, provides specific data, and maintains clear narrative flow. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Measured language with no sensationalist exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A California programme coordinates volunteer lawyers to represent immigrants in deportation hearings, where 52% of pending cases lack legal representation. - Immigrants with lawyers win asylum or other relief in 47% of cases, compared with 19% for those without representation, a 2024 study found. - The programme operates in Sacramento immigration court, where a single morning’s docket listed 57 unrepresented people. - Under the second Trump administration, courts are denying more asylum claims and reducing hearing lead times, increasing the risk of deportation. In Sacramento immigration court, lawyer Kamalpreet Chohan reviewed a morning docket of 57 people scheduled for hearings. None had legal representation. Chohan coordinates a programme that provides volunteer attorneys to immigrants facing deportation, a process where the outcome can determine whether they remain in the United States. Immigration courts do not guarantee legal representation, unlike criminal courts. Immigrants must either pay for a private lawyer or seek help from non-profit organisations, which often have long waitlists. Of the roughly 3.2 million pending deportation cases in U.S. immigration courts, 52% involve people without a lawyer, according to the Vera Institute of Justice. A 2024 Congressional Research Service study found that 19% of immigrants without a lawyer won asylum or another form of relief, compared with 47% of those with legal representation. Chohan’s programme, run by the California Immigration Project, offers free assistance to immigrants navigating the court system, including help with asylum applications and referrals to vetted attorneys. The programme’s work has taken on added urgency under the second Trump administration. Courts are denying more asylum claims, deportation officers have arrested immigrants in court hallways, and hearing lead times have been reduced, increasing the risk of missed hearings and deportation. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the 52% figure for pending deportation cases without legal representation or the 19% versus 47% success rates for asylum claims with and without lawyers. None of the centre-rated digests except the Washington Top News full report include these figures either. ## Who covered it Shares of the 18 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 33% (6) - Centre: 56% (10) - Right: 11% (2) 0 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-09T12:45:28.232242+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-09T13:01:11.806Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The two left-rated full reports, from the Associated Press News and Washington Top News, led on the absence of legal representation in immigration courts. Both quoted Chohan’s observation that none of the 57 people on the morning docket had a lawyer. They included the 52% figure for pending deportation cases without representation and the 19% versus 47% success rates for asylum claims with and without lawyers. - Both reports quoted Chohan’s statement that immigrants "go into immigration court not knowing what’s happening. They come out not knowing what’s happening." They also carried the account of a Guatemalan man who spent $4,500 on a lawyer who did nothing for his case, and his fear of deportation after being warned by the judge. The Associated Press News report described volunteers from a local anti-ICE resistance group helping immigrants outside the court building. ### Centre - The nine centre-rated digests all noted the programme’s role in helping immigrants navigate the court system. Seven of the nine mentioned the second Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, with five specifying that courts are playing a key role in that effort. The digests did not include the 52% figure for unrepresented cases or the 19% versus 47% success rates. - The full report from Washington Top News, rated centre, carried the same details as the left-rated reports, including the 52% figure, the success rates, and the account of the Guatemalan man who was scammed by a lawyer. It also described the scene inside the courtroom, including Judge Susan Phan’s introduction of Chohan’s services and the signs prohibiting recording. ### Right - The two right-rated digests both mentioned the programme’s role in helping immigrants navigate the court system. Both noted that the stakes are high under the second Trump administration, with one specifying that courts play a key role in the mass deportation agenda. Neither included the 52% figure for unrepresented cases or the 19% versus 47% success rates. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 11 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [dailyjournal.net](https://dailyjournal.net/2026/08/09/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Wral News](https://wral.com/news/ap/dad8b-many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/08/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help/article_d342fd10-c45a-549d-b101-16a0deaf0438.html) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/lawyers-immigration-court-trump-mass-deportation-dad8bf5c032922240f232867bcf247d5) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [KULR-TV](https://kulr8.com/news/national/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries/article_af239c00-6d96-5253-8626-b707521bc5ea.html) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Houston Chronicle](https://houstonchronicle.com/news/article/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-22380689.php) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Oskaloosa Herald](https://oskaloosa.com/news/national_news/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries/article_d901497d-aad6-5a3c-acb7-aba56bb7bd6c.html) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Kokomo Tribune](https://kokomotribune.com/news/nation_world_news/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries/article_7d0dddda-d18e-5777-bf84-5ee8e2cd8d15.html) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Connecticut Post](https://ctpost.com/news/article/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-22380689.php) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [CT Insider](https://ctinsider.com/news/article/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-22380689.php) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Jonesboro Sun](https://jonesborosun.com/news/national/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries/article_fc8ac667-3a3e-5f49-baa4-8f55b00b6cd8.html) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [KARK](https://kark.com/news/national/ap-many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/08/09/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [News 4 JAX](https://news4jax.com/news/politics/2026/08/09/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/united-states/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help/article_547ebf26-ab29-5d28-a422-97217c4f8c28.html) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/08/09/many-immigrants-face-deportation-without-a-lawyer-at-their-side-in-court-this-program-tries-to-help) — Many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer at their side in court. This program tries to help ## Questions **How many immigrants in deportation proceedings lack a lawyer?** Of the roughly 3.2 million pending deportation cases in U.S. immigration courts, 52% involve people without a lawyer, according to an analysis by the Vera Institute of Justice. This figure is cited in reports from the Associated Press and Washington Top News. **What difference does a lawyer make in deportation cases?** A 2024 Congressional Research Service study found that 47% of immigrants with a lawyer won asylum or another form of relief, compared with 19% of those without representation. This statistic is included in reports from the Associated Press and Washington Top News. **What is the California Immigration Project?** The California Immigration Project is a legal nonprofit that coordinates volunteer lawyers to represent immigrants in deportation hearings. Lawyer Kamalpreet Chohan runs the programme in Sacramento immigration court, as reported by the Associated Press and Washington Top News. **How has the second Trump administration changed immigration courts?** Under the second Trump administration, immigration courts are denying more asylum claims, deportation officers have arrested immigrants in court hallways, and hearing lead times have been reduced, increasing the risk of missed hearings and deportation. This context is included in reports from the Associated Press and Washington Top News. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/california-programme-provides-lawyers-for-immigrants-facing-deportation. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "California programme provides lawyers for immigrants facing deportation", https://mediabias.news/politics/california-programme-provides-lawyers-for-immigrants-facing-deportation