Full Breakdown
Justice Department Restructures Program for Indigent Immigrants
3/24/2026, 7:45:06 AM
Overview of the Changes
The U.S. Justice Department has significantly restructured the Recognition and Accreditation program, which has provided legal assistance to low-income and indigent immigrants for over 60 years. This program, part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, previously accredited non-attorneys from faith-based organizations like Catholic Charities and Jewish Family Services to assist immigrants with legal matters, including naturalization petitions and representation in immigration courts. Recent changes have led to the reassignment of senior attorneys from the program to entry-level positions in immigration courts, leaving only two support staff without legal authority to process accreditation applications.
Implications for Legal Aid
The abrupt removal of legal professionals from the program has raised concerns among advocates for immigrant rights. Anna Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC), expressed alarm over the changes, stating, “This program saves lives and it also helps alleviate the backlogs in the immigration system.” Gallagher noted that her organization’s affiliates provided legal services to over half a million individuals in 2025, highlighting the critical role of accredited representatives in navigating the complex immigration legal system.
Broader Context of Departmental Changes
This restructuring follows a series of actions by the Justice Department aimed at making it more challenging for immigrants to access legal support. In the past year, the department has dismantled the Office of Legal Access Programs, reduced legal orientation services for vulnerable immigrants, and removed over 100 immigration judges. These measures have contributed to a strained immigration system, leading to increased backlogs and difficulties for immigrants seeking legal recourse.
Criticism from Legal Experts
Legal experts have voiced strong opposition to the changes, arguing that they undermine the fairness and impartiality expected in immigration courts. Greg Chen, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, stated that the removal of accredited representatives is detrimental, as many immigrants lack the understanding of the legal system necessary to navigate it effectively. He emphasized that these representatives are crucial for assisting individuals with limited English proficiency and complex legal processes.
Concerns Over Religious Freedom
The impact of the program's changes has also been framed as an attack on religious freedom. Peggy Gleason, a lawyer at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, remarked that the program's inception in the 1950s was driven by faith-based organizations' commitment to assist marginalized communities. She argued that the current restructuring undermines this pastoral duty.
Official Responses and Future Outlook
While a spokesperson for the Executive Office for Immigration Review stated that the program is not being abolished, the lack of transparency regarding the changes has raised concerns among stakeholders. As the program transitions to the understaffed Public Resources Program, advocates fear that the ability to provide essential legal aid to indigent immigrants will be severely compromised, further complicating an already overwhelmed immigration system.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This program saves lives and it also helps alleviate the backlogs in the immigration system,” — Anna Gallagher, Executive Director, CLINIC
- “The removal of all of the lawyers who work for the program represents "an attack on freedom of religion," said Peggy Gleason, a lawyer at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, whose organization helps train some of the accredited representatives.” — Peggy Gleason, Lawyer, Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- “Most of these people don't understand the legal system, let alone immigration law, and also are going to have limited English capacity to be able to navigate a highly complex process through the courts,” — Greg Chen, Senior Director of Government Relations, American Immigration Lawyers Association
