Despite a court ordered Settlement Agreement to offer comprehensive legal services support to Ms. L. Class members and their qualifying additional family members, the Trump administration did not renew the contract for Acacia to manage the LASRF program providing basic due process protections for people navigating their immigration cases as of May 1, 2025.
To justify this contract lapse, the Department of Justice federalized the program, which will mean the same administration trying to detain and deport millions of people will also be responsible for ensuring that those people impacted by the “zero tolerance” policy under the first Trump administration understand their basic legal rights and obligations and are treated with dignity.
Let’s be clear. This clear conflict of interest will deny people trying to reunify or remain reunified with their family access to basic information about what is available to them under this Settlement. And when people are being ripped off the streets from their communities by masked agents with no impunity or accountability, they deserve – at a minimum – to have access to the same due process rights guaranteed to everyone in the U.S. under the Constitution. Due process rights are not up for debate.
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About
The Legal Access Services for Reunified Families (LASRF) program, provides legal information and advice to class members and qualifying additional family members of the Ms. L., et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, et al., 18-cv-00428-DMS-AHG (S.D. Cal. Oct. 16, 2023) (“Ms. L Settlement Agreement”). The Ms. L Settlement Agreement tasks EOIR with ensuring legal access and orientation to Ms. L. Settlement Class members. To carry out this settlement mandate, the EOIR’s Office of Legal Access Programs contracted with Acacia to create the LASRF program. Through a network of legal service providers, the LASRF program provides legal consultations, information, and advice to Ms. L class members, and assists them in preparing for hearings and submitted immigration-related applications. The LASRF program also serves as a crucial gateway for connecting class members and qualifying additional family members with pro bono attorneys (to the extent available). Although not a substitute for counsel, LASRF program educates class members about how to navigate the immigration case process pro se.
In Our Network
Acacia subcontracted with nine legal service providers throughout the country in order to provide LASRF program services and pro bono case placement nationally.
Services
- Individual consultations and counseling are one-on-one sessions with unrepresented individuals where providers conduct individual consultations for individuals, give legal advice about the person’s immigration circumstances, and help the individual complete necessary motions and forms.
- Pro se workshops are interactive, classroom-like sessions. The workshops inform and assist small groups of unrepresented individuals in understanding the relevant laws and procedures to be followed in pursuing a particular form of relief or in understanding special procedures in place that may apply to their own legal situation. Practitioners are able to provide legal advice to participants.
- Pro bono placement occurs where a subcontractor refers a case to a pro bono (i.e., at no cost) attorney organization, firm, law school, or other partner for representation and receives confirmation that an engagement letter was signed between the attorney or accredited representative and client. LASRF providers also provide training and mentorship to pro bono attorneys who take on class members for representation.
- Friend of the Court services occur when as an individual or organization that participates in an immigration court proceeding to assist the court in its efforts to promote a fair and efficient process in which the respondent understands the proceedings and their rights and obligations to the greatest extent possible.