Program Management Strategies for Removal Defense Practice - Agenda and Key Frameworks

Sep 13, 2026

Uploaded by Mimi

Program Management Strategies for Removal Defense Practice outlines objectives, agenda items, and practical guidance for organizations delivering removal defense services. It contrasts removal defense with affirmative immigration practice, covering adversarial dynamics, preparation demands, emotional impacts, and risk tolerance. The program details court etiquette, recommended infrastructure and logistics, staffing self-care, caseload balance and composition, and case selection best practices. It also explains working with clients in detention, including access constraints, wait times, lockdown risks, and reimbursement considerations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Objectives

Agenda

Morning Session

Afternoon Session

Meet Each Other Management challenge activity

Removal Defense vs. Affirmative Practice

Preparing for first experiences in immigration court

Recommended Infrastructure/Logistics

Space, equipment, and tools

Policies and procedures

Case management forms

Scope of Representation

Limited Representation Options

Service Delivery Models

Open Forum Q&A

Self-Care

Caseload Balance and Composition

Case Selection Best Practices

Working with Clients in Detention

1 Meet the Presenters Speakers • Shaila Rahman, FSC (CLINIC) • Ambar Tovar, Directing Attorney (UFWF) 2 2 Objectives • Help organizations prepare to provide future or improve current removal defense services • Introduce basic principles of program management for removal defense • Share best practice tips 3 3 Agenda Morning Session • Overview of day, intros, opening activity • Removal defense vs. affirmative practice • Immigration court protocols and etiquette • Recommended infrastructure and logistics • Morning session’s open forum and Q&A 4 4 Agenda Afternoon Session • Self-care strategies • Caseload balance issues • Case selection best practices • Working with clients in detention (introduction) • Resources, open forum/Q&A, closing activity 5 5 Meet Each Other Management challenge activity • Your name and your role • Your organization’s name • Your organization’s location • Size of your immigration program • What’s you management challenge? 6 6 Removal Defense vs. Affirmative Practice What makes removal defense different from the affirmative practice of immigration law? • Adversarial nature of the proceedings • More time-consuming/more preparation • Emotional toll on staff (i.e. vicarious trauma) • High stakes of proceedings / tolerance for risk 7 7 Removal Defense vs. Affirmative Practice How do you prepare for your first experiences in immigration court? (court etiquette/procedures) • Observe and shadow • Practice tips from the field • Immigration Court Practice Manual • Substantive removal defense trainings 8 8 Questions? 9 9 Short Break This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY 10 10 Recommended Infrastructure/Logistics What kind of infrastructure is recommended to provide removal defense services? • Space, equipment, and tools • Case management forms • Policies and procedures 11 11 Recommended Infrastructure/Logistics What space, equipment, and tools are recommended for removal defense practice? • Office supplies especially printer/copier/scanner • Adequate space for client and staff meetings • Cloud-based case management system • Inviting waiting room and toys for kids 12 12 Recommended Infrastructure/Logistics What kinds of policies and procedures are recommended for removal defense practice? • Timely filing cases • Client communications • Travel and mileage reimbursement • Case file opening and case file closing • Case file maintenance, storage, and retention 13 13 Recommended Infrastructure/Logistics What types of case management forms are recommended for removal defense practice? • Checklists • Intake/screening • Country conditions • Brief and cover letter bank • Case closing letters (various forms of relief) 14 14 Scope of Representation Why is scope of representation important? • Potential legal and ethical issues • Withdrawal or substitution of counsel • See EOIR Immigration Court Practice Manual sections on scope of representation: [https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/fi](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/fi)le/1284746 /download 15 15 Scope of Representation Limited Representation Options • Appearing in court on “on behalf of” • Bond redetermination hearings • See EOIR Immigration Court Practice Manual sections on appearing “on behalf of” and bond redetermination hearings (bond proceedings): [https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/fi](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/fi)le/1284746 /download 16 16 Service Delivery Models What service delivery model might you use to provide removal defense services and why? • One-on-one representation with E-28 • Pro se assistance workshop • Anything else? 17 17 Open Forum Q&A 18 18 Break Time J This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY 19 19 20 Agenda Afternoon Session • Self-care strategies • Caseload balance i

FAQs

What are the main objectives of the removal defense program management session?

The session helps organizations prepare to provide future or improve current removal defense services. It introduces basic principles of program management and shares best-practice tips.

How does removal defense differ from affirmative immigration practice?

Removal defense involves an adversarial courtroom process, typically requires more time and preparation, and can create emotional tolls such as vicarious trauma. Proceedings also carry high stakes that demand tolerance for risk.

What guidance is provided for working with clients in detention?

The session covers how detention work differs from released-client representation, including expense, case timing, family/client circumstances, and case complications. It also addresses visit and court expectations such as wait times, access issues, potential lockdowns, unpredictability, and mileage reimbursements.

Sep 13, 2026

Uploaded by Mimi