‘We need warriors’: Immigration lawyers get help from unlikely allies in fight to free clients

Source: KPBS

By Gustavo Solis | November 14, 2025

Facing a rapid expansion of deportation tactics, immigration attorneys nationwide have filed more than 4,000 habeas corpus petitions to challenge detentions and secure client releases. Grassroots allies are stepping in too: volunteers behind the Habeas Dockets project are digitizing federal filings to improve transparency and help lawyers tailor strategies to specific judges. While the DOJ says it is enforcing the law, advocates say district courts have become a critical backstop for due process.