About
The Family Group Legal Orientation Program is a court-based legal education program to provide families placed on “dedicated dockets” – an expedited deportation process, placed on ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD), and or placed in the Family Expedited Removal (FERM) program – with information about court practices and procedures, available legal options, and other relevant topics.
The program educates people about how to advocate for themselves in court and is a safeguard for immigrants in removal proceedings, ensuring a modicum of due process in an adversarial, high-stakes, and complex system. The program provided services to more than 9,000 people in FY 2023.
In Our Network
FGLOP operates in 9 immigration courts and hosts a National FERM Information Line
Services
- Multi-Family Group Orientations offer a broad overview of the immigration legal process and basic information on defenses against removal.
- Single Family Orientations are one-on-one meetings where participants can ask questions about immigration law and what to expect as they pursue their cases before the court.
- Pro se workshops allow immigrants who will be representing themselves in court or before USCIS to ask questions, prepare applications and practice with others who will be pursuing similar applications or relief.
- Recognizing that legal representation is preferable for anyone in removal proceedings, referrals to pro bono attorneys are made where possible.
- Friend of the Court assistance is offered as a supplemental service to promote a fair and efficient process in appointing someone to stand alongside the respondent and help them understand the proceedings and their rights and obligations.
People Served
Families in removal on expedited dockets before the immigration court or who have been placed in the Family Expedited Removal program.
Our Partners Say
“The Family Group Legal Orientation Program assisted a Haitian family of six who are currently seeking asylum. Through the program, we assisted with preparing asylum applications for all family members and then we successfully placed the family with pro bono representation before the San Diego Immigration Court.”
Legal Service Provider, California