Direct Representation

Direct Representation

Pangea provides full-scope legal representation to immigrants in both detained and non-detained immigration court proceedings.  Our services are low fee and free, and our clients are newcomers and long-term residents in the United States.  We focus on providing representation in the area of deportation defense; approximately 80% of our clients are in deportation proceedings.  

We assist in the following areas: 

  • Asylum (primarily for those in immigration court)
  • Reasonable and Credible Fear Interviews
  • Cancellation of Removal
  • Bond & Custody Redetermination Requests 
  • Prosecutorial Discretion Requests 
  • U-Visa & VAWA
  • Motions to Reopen
  • Family Petitions
  • DACA 
  • Temporary Protected Status
  • Employment Authorization Requests 
  • Adjustment of Status & Naturalization

To schedule a consultation, please call (415) 254-0475.

Pangea's detained legal services program focuses on assisting immigrants detained by ICE in local jails and private detention facilities, including West County Detention Center (Richmond, CA), Yuba County Jail (Marysville, CA), Mesa Verde Detention Facility (Bakersfield, CA) and Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center (Elk Grove, CA). 

Our attorneys conduct legal intakes twice a week over the phone with family members or friends seeking advice or representation for a detained loved one.  Whenever possible, Pangea takes on representation before the San Francisco detained Immigration Court and other agencies processing detained cases.  Our attorneys strive to provide free, full-scope representation to an increasing number of detained individuals, as part of a collective effort to achieve universal representation.

Pangea attorney Bianca with clients at Pangea office in San Francisco (Jan. 2016)

Pangea attorney Bianca with clients at Pangea office in San Francisco (Jan. 2016)

Policy Advocacy

Pangea staff advocate for immigrant friendly policies on four levels:

Our policy advocacy work is informed by our direct representation and community empowerment efforts.  In each step of the way, we weave in our client stories and voices to make recommendations and ask for more just immigration policies for our community. 

Pangea staff and volunteers with partners at Immigrant Day in Sacramento, CA (2015)

Community Education & Legal Empowerment

Pangea staff and volunteers regularly organize and collaborate with partners to participate in know-your-rights workshops and immigration clinics providing educational programs and consultations to immigrant communities.  

Pangea also strives to build a community-based deportation defense model that does more than provide high-quality representation. We try to empower our clients to become agents of change in their community by connecting them with local grassroots groups and giving them opportunities to share their stories with the public, media, and elected officials.

Take, for example, the case of Ernesto.  Ernesto was in immigration detention for about 6 months.  Pangea connected Ernesto’s family with community leaders; we circulated a petition and gathered 750 signatures calling for Ernesto’s release; Ernesto’s family met with a local senator to share how family separation had placed them on the brink of homelessness; and the community participated in a public rally in front of ICE to demand Ernesto’s liberation from detention. 

In part due to these efforts, Ernesto was released from detention and reunited with his wife, children, and newborn granddaughter just in time for Christmas.  And in the process, Ernesto and his family were transformed into community leaders.  Ernesto is now a regular at community events and has become a source of strength for other families experiencing separation and detention. 

Pangea attorneys and volunteers providing know your rights education with Univision 14 (2015) 

Ernesto on the left with attorney Luis Angel speaking at media action to educate community members about ICE raids (Jan. 2016).