La Raza Centro Legal transformed its services to adapt to growing fears among asylum-seekers in the Bay Area following recent arrests during court hearings.
On a busy Friday morning, the organization’s office buzzed with energy. Approximately 40 applicants lined the narrow corridors, clutching paperwork and preparing their questions for legal staff.
Originally scheduled as a clinic to assist asylum-seekers with their applications, the focus shifted significantly when staff learned of the increased arrests in San Francisco courts.
Jordan Weiner, the legal director of La Raza’s Removal Defense Program, explained that many asylum applicants were hesitant to attend hearings in person due to the alarming developments.
To address these concerns, La Raza’s team promptly shifted gears to guide individuals on how to request that their hearings be moved online.
This process involves filing a motion with the judge presiding over each case. Law students at La Raza assisted applicants in drafting these motions and provided pre-stamped envelopes for mailing.
Within a two-hour window, immigration attorney Pilar Eslava met with dozens of applicants, collecting their questions and concerns in Spanish.
While there’s no requirement for applicants to provide a reason to attend hearings remotely, many shared personal circumstances that they felt might strengthen their motions.
Issues like lack of childcare, tight work schedules, and transportation difficulties from distant areas such as San Jose and Fremont were common themes.
After discussing their cases, Eslava guided applicants on where to send their motions and provided a QR code for an app needed to access court remotely.
Eslava also supplied detailed paperwork that included the specific virtual courtroom codes essential for their upcoming hearings.
Throughout the morning, Weiner, Eslava, and fellow volunteers patiently addressed the applicants’ concerns, ensuring they felt supported and informed as they navigated this uncertain landscape.
Concerns were raised regarding the safety of mailing critical documents. Questions about the security of the blue mailboxes lined on city streets were quickly met with reassurance that they are secure.
For those uncertain about attending hearings alone, Eslava informed applicants that there are nonprofit organizations willing to provide accompaniment.
A pressing concern arose from an individual with an upcoming court date. He inquired whether it would be more advantageous to mail his motion overnight instead of through regular mail.
Weiner advised him that the overnight option wouldn’t significantly impact the case, cautioning that physically delivering the motion to the court remains the fastest route, though she understood his hesitation to do so given the current climate.
“Call the court in two days to confirm they received the motion,” Weiner instructed in Spanish, suggesting that he send another copy if it had not arrived.
Ultimately, the authority to permit remote hearings rests solely with the judges. When asked about the likelihood of judges approving these motions as applicants sought safety through online hearings, Eslava met the question with a shrug, stating, “We do what we can do.”
Amanda Alvarado Ford, an attorney from the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area volunteering at La Raza, noted the shift in strategy from encouraging in-person hearings to recommending online ones due to safety concerns.
Previously, she believed that clients would present their cases more effectively face-to-face.
Yet, she now concluded that the risk of apprehension in court settings had become too great, leading to new recommendations for her clients.
In an ever-evolving legal landscape, La Raza Centro Legal continues to adapt to ensure that the voices of asylum-seekers are heard, even from a distance.
image source from：https://missionlocal.org/2025/06/asylum-video-court-heari/
