Legal Empowerment Initiative
Bay Area Immigration Court Update - As of Sep 2, 2026
What is LEI?
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The Legal Empowerment Initiative is a community-led project to provide legal and accompaniment support for unrepresented immigrants with cases before the newly opened Concord court.
What is CCIJ’s role in LEI?
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CCIJ provides training and technical support to local organizations based on our experience with community-legal partnerships.
If you had an immigration court hearing in San Francisco, please read the following information.
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No more immigration hearings are being held the San Francisco Immigration Court at 100 Montgomery Street. By September 2026 the filing window at that address will be closed.
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There are still a very small number of hearings happening at 630 Sansome Street in San Francisco.
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We have been seeing hearings being moved up with very little warning, sometimes with as few as 14 days' notice, even for cases that were originally scheduled years from now.
POWER NOT PANIC! Here's how to protect yourself if you have an immigration court case in San Francisco or Concord:
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Check your court date often. Because hearing dates can change quickly, don't wait for a notice in the mail — check yours regularly.
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You will need what the government calls your A# to check your case status.
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You can check your case status:
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Online, through the EOIR case status page online: www.acis.eoir.justice.gov/en/caseinformation/
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By calling 1-800-898-7180 to check the date, time and location of your hearing.
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Go to your court hearings. If you want to keep fighting your case, attending your hearing matters — even if it's been moved up. If you miss it, the judge can order you deported without you there (this is called an "in absentia" order).
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Talk to an immigration attorney about your options, including whether you can ask the judge for permission to appear remotely. And ask someone you trust to go with you to court for support.
If you miss any immigration hearings, a judge may order you deported in your absence, so it is important to know when and where your hearings are. Some people’s court dates have been rescheduled to take place much sooner, even as soon as a couple of weeks. In other cases, they are being delayed even more.
You are not alone.
Organizations like ours are doing everything we can to be there at court to support you. Reach out to local immigration legal services — we can help connect you with legal services, including emergency legal consultations and possible representation if you're arrested by ICE.
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In Concord, our Legal Empowerment Initiative is on-site to help people representing themselves (pro se) in immigration court.
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Concerned community members can call the Attorney Of the Day Hotline Monday-Friday 9am 2pm and 3-5pm for a free legal consultation: (408) 461-8795