Innovation Law Lab has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Clear Clinic and PCUN against DHS, ICE & CBP.

The lawsuit challenges the agencies’ practice of denying people in immigration custody access to legal counsel before being transferred out of Oregon. This practice prevents individuals from securing legal help at a critical time, often just before they’re moved to remote facilities out of state, far from their families and legal resources.

The case comes amid a significant uptick in ICE enforcement actions in Oregon, including Eugene, Woodburn, and Hillsboro, and the surrounding areas. By denying access to attorneys, the government is violating peoples due process and putting community members at serious risk of prolonged detention and unjust deportation. Denying access to legal counsel not only violates constitutional protections, it also undermines the dignity and humanity of immigrant communities.