Up to our eyeballs Immigration lawyers struggle to keep up during Trumps crackdown

Minnesota's immigration attorneys are overwhelmed by a significant increase in cases, with nonprofit organizations reporting that lawyers handle as many as 100 cases at once. Since President Trump took office, immigration arrests have risen sharply, resulting in more expedited deportations and a lack of legal representation for many detainees. According to the Vera Institute for Justice, 61% of detainees and 43% of those with immigration cases do not have legal counsel. Individuals like Jennifer Yugcha Galarza struggle to navigate the asylum process without assistance, leading to stalled cases. The opaque nature of immigration court proceedings complicates the situation further, with many individuals unable to access case files easily.

Lawyers note that the reinterpretation of immigration laws under the Trump administration has made the legal landscape more difficult to navigate. The financial burden of hiring private attorneys adds to the stress, with costs for legal help ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. As the situation escalates, the importance of having legal representation becomes increasingly apparent for those facing removal actions.