Showing Up, Bearing Witness: Volunteer Reflections from the PAPAs Project at San Antonio Immigration Court

Last month, the ABA Commission on Immigration volunteered with the American Gateways Pro Se Assistance Program (PAPA) to provide in-person assistance to noncitizens at the San Antonio Immigration Court. Volunteers serve as greeters, help desk support, and courtroom observers. These roles involve helping individuals navigate the courthouse, answering basic questions, and observing court proceedings.

Experiences like this give volunteers a direct view of immigration court operations and the challenges many respondents face when appearing without counsel.

Witnessing the Earliest Stages of Detention

Ruby Teran Lerma, a Legal Advocate at the ABA South Texas Pro Bono Representation Project (ProBAR) who regularly visits detention facilities, volunteered as both a greeter and court observer. Despite her extensive experience working with detained individuals, she said the events she witnessed at the courthouse stood out.

“I decided to observe court, and I was able to witness ICE intercept a woman immediately after she exited the courtroom,” Ruby said. Throughout the day, Ruby observed several individuals who attended their scheduled hearings and were then approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers outside the courtroom. Some were questioned and taken into custody shortly after leaving their hearings.

“As a legal advocate who visits detention facilities weekly, witnessing the earliest stages of the immigration process evoked an emotion I had never experienced in this field,” she reflected.

Ruby said it was particularly difficult to see individuals attend court as required and then be detained soon afterward. She also observed several family members being separated as individuals were taken into custody. Her experience illustrates one aspect of the PAPA volunteers’ role. Volunteers do not intervene in cases but help document and observe what takes place in and around the courtroom.

Supporting Respondents at the Help Desk

Ana Carrera, a social worker with ABA ProBAR, volunteered at the PAPA help desk, where she assisted individuals with sign in, basic screening questions, and information about their court hearings.

Before the volunteer shift, she said she prepared herself for what she might encounter based on news reports and social media coverage of recent enforcement activity at courthouses. “As the day approached, I intentionally worked on grounding and self-regulating strategies so that I could show up present and perform to the best of my ability,” Ana said.

During training, volunteers learned about the three roles in the program: greeter, help desk support, and courtroom observer. Each role helps ensure that individuals arriving at court receive basic information and assistance navigating the process.

One of the more difficult parts of the help desk role, Ana said, was sharing information about potential detention risks. “I’m not sure there is a right way to do so, as detention remains devastating regardless of how gently it is communicated,” she said.

At the same time, she also saw moments of relief. One individual was able to attend their hearing through WebEx rather than appearing in person. Another family learned that their case had been rescheduled due to a measles outbreak, allowing them to leave court with a new hearing date several months away.

Observing Enforcement at the Courthouse

One moment that stayed with Ana involved a young woman who arrived at court prepared for her hearing. When she learned that her judge did not permit WebEx appearances and that she would need to appear in person, Ana saw her confidence begin to fade. Later in the day, Ana saw the same woman again after she had been detained.

“She was handcuffed and escorted by masked federal agents. Her white handbag was placed inside a clear plastic bag,” Ana said.

Ana also accompanied a staff member who spoke with the man who had come to court with the woman. He expressed feeling defeated and uncertain about what would happen next. In that moment, volunteers could provide information and reassurance but had limited ability to change the situation.

The Role of Volunteers

For volunteers like Ruby and Ana, the PAPA program provides an opportunity to assist individuals navigating immigration court while also observing how the system operates in practice. Volunteers help provide basic information, support individuals arriving for their hearings, and observe court proceedings.

Reflecting on the experience, Ana shared: “My key takeaway was the importance of finding courage and hope in small moments—to resist giving in to fear and instead hold on to humanity, dignity, and purpose.”

Programs like PAPA rely on volunteers who are willing to show up, assist respondents with basic information, and observe what takes place in and around the courtroom. Click the hyperlinks to learn more about how you can volunteer with American Gateways or the ABA Commission on Immigration.

– This article was originally published on the American Bar Association by the Commission on Immigration.