Immigrant Defenders Law Center

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) fights to protect the rights of immigrants and uphold due process in the U.S. immigration system by providing free, high-quality deportation defense and related legal support across Southern California. As the state's largest pro bono nonprofit deportation defense provider, ImmDef represents people in immigration court through offices in Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Ana, and San Diego-reaching approximately 10,000 adults and children each year in more than 10 counties. Through direct representation and legal support services, ImmDef helps individuals and families assert their rights, navigate complex proceedings, and access wraparound supports, including legal education, individualized consultations, and referrals to social services and community resources. ImmDef prioritizes assistance for especially vulnerable community members, including unaccompanied children, separated families, deported veterans, people with mental health disabilities, and individuals who are detained. Services are delivered through four core programs: (1) Children's Representation Program, which represents thousands of children in removal proceedings and provides legal education and one-on-one consultations to unaccompanied children in local shelters; (2) Adult Representation Program, which offers holistic deportation defense for adults and families at all stages of their cases, including detained clients; (3) Cross-Border Initiative, which provides triage, legal support, and representation at and near the U.S.-Mexico border, including the San Diego region; and (4) Litigation & Advocacy, which pairs ImmDef's on-the-ground court experience with impact litigation, policy advocacy, and narrative change efforts to strengthen due process, defend the right to seek asylum, expand access to counsel, and challenge harmful detention practices.