Immigration court is moving quickly right now.
Over the past few weeks, I have seen several individuals appear in immigration court without attorneys. When the judge asked why they did not have legal representation, some explained they were still looking for a lawyer. Others said they had contacted attorneys but never received a response. Some simply said they could not afford representation. In many of those cases, that was not enough to postpone the hearing.
The judges made it clear that the cases had to move forward, and the individuals were expected to proceed with their hearings that day. You could almost feel the sense of panic in the courtroom after that announcement.
Many struggled to present their cases because they did not know how to tell their stories in a way that addressed the legal issues before the court or satisfied the applicable legal standards.
Every word mattered, and they knew everything they said was being recorded. The weight of that moment was overwhelming. Imagine standing before an immigration judge, knowing that the outcome of your case, whether you remain in the United States or are ordered deported, depends largely on your ability to present your case, yet not knowing how to explain your situation in a legally effective way.
If you have an immigration court case, do not assume that telling the judge you are still looking for a lawyer will automatically result in a continuance or postponement of your case.
Every case is different, and every judge exercises independent judgment. However, in the current environment, simply saying you are still searching for counsel may not be enough.
This concern is reinforced by the Board of Immigration Appeals’ August 14, 2026 decision in Matter of A-K-R-, 29 I&N Dec. 839 (BIA 2026). The BIA upheld an Immigration Judge’s denial of an additional continuance where the respondent had already been given time to find an attorney but had not shown good cause for more time. If you need legal representation, begin your search as early as possible.
Waiting until your next hearing is just around the corner may leave you with very few options.
#ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrationCourt #RemovalProceedings #DeportationDefense #BIA #LegalRepresentation #ImmigrationAttorney #KnowYourRights #USImmigration #AKPokuLaw