JAMES H. BINGER CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS

Immigration Court Observation- Fort Snelling Court

Most immigration hearings are observed in-person at the Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling MN.

The Immigration Court Observation Project brings transparency and accountability to immigration court. Court observers attend deportation hearings at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court and report on issues of concern including access to counsel, family and community support, language interpretation, and the ability of individuals to raise defenses to deportation. Information gleaned from observers is used to document the effect of executive actions, new procedures, regulations, and laws, and to propel our advocacy efforts.

Before signing up for shifts, all volunteers must:

• Register and complete a Volunteer Agreement
• Watch an introductory video
• Attend a training

Visit https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/Immigration_Court to start the volunteer process.

Volunteer court observers primarily monitor three dockets (list of court cases):

DETAINED MASTER CALENDAR AND BOND DOCKET:

Master calendar are short procedural hearings for immigrants to understand why they are in removal proceedings, what their rights are in the process, and determine whether they may have a legal basis to remain in the United States. The detained docket is for people being held in ICE detention. Bond hearings determine whether an immigrant can be released from ICE detention while their case is moving through the court. Most immigrants will have several master calendar hearings over the course of several weeks. These shifts are 1 ½ - 2 hours in length.

MERIT HEARING DOCKET: 

These are the final individual hearings where evidence is examines and testimony is taken, after which the judge rules on the case. The immigrants in these hearings are typically being held in ICE detention. Occasionally observers have the opportunity to attend merit hearings for people who are not being detained. The judge will ask for the immigrant’s consent to have observers present for their merit hearings. If consent is not granted, you will be asked to leave. Observers should observe master calendar and bond hearings prior to signing up for merit hearings. These shifts are typically 2-3 hours in length. Some are observed in person at court and some remotely via Webex.

NON-DETAINED MASTER CALENDAR DOCKET:  

These are short procedural hearings for immigrants who are not detained; they are living in the community while their removal case is moving through immigration court. Historically most immigrants would have several master calendar hearings over the course of a year or more. Recently ICE has been moving to dismiss cases in court in order to put people into expedited removal proceedings. These shifts are 1 ½ - 2 hours in length. If possible people are encouraged to sign up for a whole morning or whole afternoon. Judges often complete the docket of cases in less than 3 hours each morning and afternoon.

LOBBY SHIFT:

The purpose of the lobby shift is to track and record dockets, to monitor interactions in the court waiting area, and to document any ICE arrests in the building. The person doing a lobby shift may also offer support or assistance to courtroom observers or fill in if needed. This shift is a pilot and the length of shifts may change.

Detained Master Calendar/Bond Hearings, Lobby shifts, Merits Hearings and Non-Detained master calendar hearings shifts are listed separately below.  If no shifts are listed, all shifts are full. New shifts are posted at least monthly.

To sign up for a shift, select the shift's checkbox and then scroll to the bottom of the page to enter your email, name, and phone number; then click the grey "sign up to volunteer" box to submit.  

When signing up you can click on “[see description]” and read the Shift Notes to find out more details about the type of hearing, courtroom and other shift details.

You will get a reminder email the weekend before your shift.  It will contain links to download the necessary forms and may contain shift updates. Read these reminders thoroughly.

For questions, or if you need to cancel your shift, please contact: courtobserver@umn.edu.

This project is a collaboration between The Advocates for Human Rights, and the University of Minnesota Law School's James H. Binger Center for New Americans.

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