Title 8Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-73

§1362 Right to counsel

Title 8 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - IMMIGRATION › Part Part IX— - Miscellaneous › § 1362

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

People in removal hearings or appeals to the Attorney General may hire a lawyer who is allowed to practice in those cases; the government will not pay for that lawyer.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1362

Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In any removal proceedings before an immigration judge and in any appeal proceedings before the Attorney General from any such removal proceedings, the person concerned shall have the privilege of being represented (at no expense to the Government) by such counsel, authorized to practice in such proceedings, as he shall choose.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–208, § 371(b)(9), substituted “an immigration judge” for “a special inquiry officer”. Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(d)(4)(O), substituted “removal” for “exclusion or deportation” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by section 308(d)(4)(O) of Pub. L. 104–208 effective, with certain transitional provisions, on the first day of the first month beginning more than 180 days after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title. Amendment by section 371(b)(9) of Pub. L. 104–208 effective Sept. 30, 1996, see section 371(d)(1) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title. Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1362

Title 8Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73