What is happening at Concord Immigration Court?
The federal government is expanding immigration enforcement and deportations. Many people facing removal must navigate a complex court system without an attorney.
Even a simple administrative error can have life-changing consequences: a wrong or outdated address can mean missing a hearing and receiving an in absentia removal order without ever appearing before a judge.
Immigration enforcement is expanding
The local court transition:
San Francisco had a strong network of nonprofit legal organizations, attorneys, and community support, as well as relatively high rates of legal representation and asylum approval. San Francisco courts are closing and cases are being moved to Concord.
The transition can create confusion about where and when people need to appear, increasing the risk of in absentia deportation.
More than a year before the transfer of cases, the four LEI partner organizations were already planning and building the infrastructure needed to support people at the Concord court.
As San Francisco's cases move to Concord, LEI is positioned to expand the network that people will need: attorneys who can provide legal support, volunteers who can help people navigate the courthouse, and community organizations that can provide accompaniment and connections to resources beyond the courtroom.
LEI is prepared for this moment
You shouldn't have to face immigration court alone.
The Legal Empowerment Initiative (LEI) connects people facing removal proceedings with legal support, court navigation, and community accompaniment.
Since January 2025, LEI has supported more than 6,193 community members at the Concord Immigration Court.
Attorney-of-the-Day
Welcome Navigators
Pro Se Legal Support
LEI coordinates attorney coverage so that more people have access to legal support when they appear for their Master Calendar Hearings.
Welcome Navigators can help with non-attorney needs such as understanding where to go, checking information, gathering documents and connecting people with available resources.
For people representing themselves, LEI helps connect them with information and support related to matters including their case applications and legal resources.
Our services include:
Looking for further support?
Community Resource Hub
The SAFE Center — Services and Access for Everyone Center — provides an additional point of connection near the Concord Immigration Court.
The SAFE Center connects immigrants and community members with information, resources, and support.
Partner Organizations
LEI is a collaboration between California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (CCIJ), Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance (CCIRA), Immigrant Action Network (IAN), and Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI).
In addition to CCIJ, CCIRA, IAN, and IM4HI, partner organizations providing Attorney-of-the-Day coverage include Stand Together Contra Costa, Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay, and Church World Services Northern California. LEI is close to finalizing agreements with the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco and International Rescue Committee to take Attorney-of-the-Day shifts.
6,193+
community members supported
91%
of people received accompanimient from our Welcome Navigators
52%
of Master Calendar Hearings had attorney coverage
Our Impact in Numbers
Join our network
Legal service organizations
Your attorneys can help someone navigate one of the most consequential moments in their immigration case.
Attorneys
Volunteer for an Attorney-of-the-Day shift and provide legal support to people appearing before the Concord Immigration Court.
Funders
Your investment helps build the infrastructure needed to expand legal representation and community support as the number of cases in Concord grows.
Volunteers
Welcome people at court, provide navigation support, accompany community members, and help connect people to trusted resources.
Our Funders
LEI is grateful to the foundations and public partners whose support has helped build and sustain this work.
