An Analysis of Inadequate Legal Support for Venezuelans Facing Deportation
74% of Venezuelans facing deportation in the United States since 2017 did so without representation.
February 2026
Respondents in immigration court face life‑altering consequences, yet they are not guaranteed appointed counsel. Immigration law, which is often described as second only to the U.S. tax code in complexity, changes rapidly and demands deep expertise. As a result, representation is strongly correlated with outcomes: a November 2025 analysis by the American Immigration Council found that between FY2019 and FY2024, only 27% of represented respondents were ordered removed, compared to 62% of those without representation. However, the new Acacia fact sheet, “Venezuelans Facing Deportation: Trends in Legal Representation in U.S. Immigration Court”, shows that the almost 552,000 Venezuelans who have faced deportation since 2017 (74% of the total) did so alone, without representation. For Venezuelan respondents navigating an even harsher political climate, the need for counsel is now as acute as it has ever been.
Over the past year, Venezuelans have been uniquely targeted by political rhetoric regarding oftentimes unsubstantiated gang ties by the administration. High‑profile incidents underscore how harmful narratives can translate into punitive consequences – including the transfer of 238 Venezuelan men to the CECOT prison in El Salvador and high profile and militarized enforcement actions in U.S. cities. These generalizations, rooted in nationality‑based suspicion rather than individualized assessments, further disadvantage Venezuelans already facing a complex legal landscape.
Over the years, Venezuelan displacement has surged. Economic and political instability has driven millions from the country, with many seeking safety elsewhere in Latin America or the United States. The U.S. population of Venezuelan nationals has more than doubled in five years (reaching almost 990,000in 2024) and in 2021, recognizing the “severe humanitarian emergency” in Venezuela, the United States designated the group for Temporary Protected Status.
Despite this rapid demographic shift, the legal services infrastructure has not kept pace. Venezuelans have become the second largest national group in removal proceedings in U.S. immigration courts, yet representation rates lag behind those of other nationalities of similar size. This gap will likely be further exacerbated as the number of Venezuelans entering removal proceedings grows in the coming months; something that is likely to occur in the wake of the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of TPS for Venezuelans. This movebecame official in November 2025 and impacted about 600,000 people.1 Prior to the termination, Venezuelan nationals were the single largest recipients of TPS, with Haitians being the second largest nationality. Even as litigation continues over the legality of the termination, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have already lost this vital protection and are left without adequate legal support when they need it most.
Acacia’s fact sheet provides additional context for the challenges discussed above. Data from the factsheet shows that the median time from issuance of an NTA to securing representation has risen from 86 days in 2018 to 586 days in 2025 (see Figure 2 in “Venezuelans Facing Deportation”). While the number of Venezuelans obtaining counsel each year has grown, Acacia’s analysis shows that the increase has not kept pace with even faster-growing need.
Venezuelans also appear to be facing greater barriers, compared to other national origin groups, accessing legal representation. Venezuelan representation rates (at 26% from 2017 to 2025) rank second from the bottom among the 10 largest national origin groups in the immigration court caseload (see Figure 5 in “Venezuelans Facing Deportation”). At the same time, it is noteworthy that Venezuelans have become the second largest national origin group facing deportation in immigration court since 2017 (see Figure 6 in “Venezuelans Facing Deportation”).Other national groups with large caseloads (including Mexicans, Hondurans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans) have representation rates that range between 11 and 35 percentage points higher than Venezuelans. This means that over this period more Venezuelans have faceddeportation, alone, without representation than nationals from any other country other than Mexico.
It also bears noting that TPS terminations for Venezuelans took effect in two stages in 2025. The first termination, which impacted over 350,000 Venezuelan TPS holders, took effect in May 2025. The second termination, which impacted over 250,000 TPS holders, took effect in November 2025. Venezuelans who had their TPS terminated in May, some of whom were tracked into deportation proceedings, should be reflected in the caseload documented in Acacia’s analysis. However, the full impact of the November TPS terminations is not reflected in the fact sheet data, which means that the pressing need for Venezuelan legal support is likely to grow even larger in 2026.
As respondents confront both the complexities of immigration law and the additional burden of damaging political narratives, the pro bono community plays a pivotal role. We urge pro bono attorneys and law firms to consider taking on the representation of an individual or family in removal proceedings. Increased legal advocacy can help counteract misinformation, safeguard due process, and ensure that respondentsreceive the fair adjudication they are entitled to under U.S. law.
To talk to a member of our Research team, please contact press@acaciajustice.org