As immigration judges nationwide dismiss cases and federal agents move to detain migrants, volunteers have stepped up outside courthouses like Tucson’s to educate migrants about their legal rights—a strategy that appears to be effective.
On Monday, two unmarked Department of Homeland Security vehicles were parked outside the Tucson immigration court, but no agents were seen as migrants arrived for hearings.
Among the volunteers was Bates Putnam-Hidalgo, part of a group called Companions for Migrant Families. Wearing identifiable lanyards, they handed out flyers explaining migrants’ rights, including the ability to contest case dismissals.
“If your case is dismissed, you could be placed on an immediate detention list,” Putnam-Hidalgo said. “You have the right to ask the judge not to dismiss your case, request additional time, and explain any fears you have about returning to your home country to apply for asylum.”
Many migrants, she added, enter court unaware of these protections and often feel fearful.
A Venezuelan migrant who had just attended an asylum hearing said he was initially nervous but had been advised not to accept case dismissal without understanding the consequences. A volunteer accompanied him and his partner to a nearby bus stop.
Most volunteers are affiliated with the advocacy organization Coalición de Derechos Humanos. They not only provide support but also document interactions, take notes, and film detentions if they occur. So far, no arrests have been reported outside the Tucson court.
This volunteer effort reflects a broader movement to protect migrants amid increasing federal enforcement measures that advocates say often leave migrants uninformed and vulnerable.
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