NY Bar Association Backs Right to Counsel for Detained Immigrants

The group is pushing for state funding and legislation to expand legal representation for immigrants facing deportation.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:24pm

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A solitary immigrant detainee sits alone in a dimly lit immigration court room, the space bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and vulnerability.As local law enforcement's role in federal immigration enforcement grows, the push for guaranteed legal representation aims to protect the due process rights of detained immigrants.NYC Today

The New York State Bar Association has voted to support a slate of bills that would guarantee lawyers for people locked up in New York and facing deportation. The association is calling for increased state funding to expand legal representation for detained immigrants, arguing that too many New Yorkers are being hauled into removal proceedings without legal counsel.

Why it matters

The move by the state bar association aims to address a long-standing gap in legal representation for detained immigrants in New York. Advocates argue that providing lawyers can dramatically improve case outcomes and protect the due process rights of immigrants facing deportation, especially as more local law enforcement agencies partner with federal immigration authorities.

The details

On April 11, the New York State Bar Association's House of Delegates voted to support legislation that would create a statutory right to counsel for detained immigrants facing deportation. The group is backing several bills, including the BUILD Act which would provide workforce and capacity-building grants to legal services providers. The association is also supporting the New York for All Act and the Sanctuary Hospitals Act as part of a broader effort to protect sensitive locations and limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

  • On April 11, the New York State Bar Association's House of Delegates voted to support the legislation.
  • The BUILD Act, S4538, has been filed in the New York State Senate.
  • The Access to Representation Act, S9756, has been filed in the New York State Senate.

The players

New York State Bar Association

The professional association for lawyers in New York state, which has voted to support legislation to guarantee legal representation for detained immigrants facing deportation.

Karin Anderson-Ponzer

Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Immigration Representation and director of legal services at Neighbors Link Community Law Practice.

Vera Institute of Justice

A nonprofit research and policy organization that has documented the representation gap for immigrants facing deportation in New York, finding that nearly 30% do not have attorneys and 40% appear in court alone.

New York Immigrant Family Unity Project

A program that provides lawyers for detained immigrants, which advocates say has dramatically improved case outcomes.

New York Civil Liberties Union

A civil rights organization that has flagged a growing list of New York counties with active 287(g) agreements, which deputize local officers to act with certain federal immigration powers.

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What’s next

The bills backed by the New York State Bar Association are currently sitting in Albany committees and will require lawmakers to agree to both spend the money and build the infrastructure outlined by the association in order to move forward.

The takeaway

The New York State Bar Association's push for guaranteed legal representation for detained immigrants facing deportation aims to address a long-standing gap in access to counsel. Advocates argue that providing lawyers can dramatically improve case outcomes and protect the due process rights of immigrants, especially as local law enforcement agencies take on a greater role in federal immigration enforcement.