Friend of the Court Program

Immigrant ARC built a Friend of the Court Program (FOTC) to meet the needs faced by our member organizations and the overwhelmed immigration court system. The Friend of the Court ensures newcomers will have access to legal help, orientation, and referrals at the moment they need it most – when they are appearing before an immigration judge. This model is a tool that allows volunteers to assist pro se respondents in navigating the complex immigration court system, and thereby create greater efficiency and fairness by helping respondents better understand court proceedings.

Our FOTC programming runs at 290 Broadway on select mornings and 201 Varick Street on select afternoons. FOTC volunteers assist pro se respondents and conduct a brief screening, assist with change of address forms, answer questions respondents may have, and stand with them during their initial hearing to help resolve any administrative issues preventing the case from moving forward. It's a great way to be exposed to immigration court without the responsibility of taking on a case.