The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) of the New York State Defenders Association defends the legal, constitutional and human rights of immigrants facing criminal or deportation charges. We are the nation's first project founded to respond to the devastation 1996 immigration laws that placed hundreds of thousands of immigrants at risk of mandatory detention and deportation for virtually any interaction with the criminal justice system.

IDP promotes a transformation of the criminal justice and immigration systems so that they do not result in the exile of immigrants from their homes and families in the United States. We also seek to minimize deportation and detention under current laws for immigrants facing criminal charges or subsequent deportation.

In pursuit of these goals, we (1) serve as a legal resource and training center for criminal defense attorneys, criminal justice and immigrant advocates, and immigrants fighting against deportation and detention; (2) support community-based advocacy against unjust immigration laws and their aggressive enforcement; and (3) promote immigrant-protective impact litigation results by recruiting and mentoring pro bono attorneys to provide legal assistance to immigrants challenging their detention or removal order in federal court.