Chandigarh/Jalandhar – Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), has expressed deep concerns over the disparities in legal representation for non-English speaking immigrants in U.S. Immigration Courts, particularly in light of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, Designating English as an Official Language of The United States.
According to recently released data for Fiscal Year 2025, of the 157,577 removal orders issued in immigration court, 82.5% of individuals did not have legal representation. The disparity in legal representation is most severe for Spanish speakers, who constitute the largest group facing removal, with only 14.5% represented. In contrast, Punjabi speakers had one of the highest representation rates, with 81.6% receiving legal assistance, though they remain a minority in the immigration court system.
“This data highlights the ongoing crisis in legal representation within immigration courts,” said Chahal. “While Punjabi-speaking immigrants appear to have better access to legal counsel, the majority of other non-English-speaking individuals remain vulnerable due to systemic barriers.”
With President Trump’s executive order raising questions about language access in legal proceedings, advocates fear that due process could be significantly compromised. Language access remains essential to ensuring fairness in immigration court, and without proper representation, thousands risk unjust deportations.
NAPA calls on policymakers, legal advocates, and civil society organizations to reinforce efforts to provide adequate legal resources and interpretation services for non-English-speaking immigrants. The organization urges the Trump administration and congressional leaders to ensure that language barriers do not prevent individuals from receiving a fair hearing in immigration proceedings.