Attorney Willy Allen issued a direct warning this Wednesday to Cuban immigrants facing a merit hearing in U.S. immigration courts. From his perspective, appearing without legal representation at that stage is essentially equivalent to almost certain deportation.
Responding live to a viewer identified as Liliana, Allen was emphatic: "If he goes to a merits court, which is the final court, and he doesn't go with a lawyer ready to defend his asylum, Liliana, I don't know what to tell you, they are going to deport him."
The lawyer described it as a "mistake" to attend that stage of the process without representation and emphasized that the outcome also depends on the specific judge and the court where the hearing takes place. "It's very difficult not to apply for asylum on your own. Who is the judge? Where is the Court? It's a mistake to go to the final Court without a lawyer."
Allen left no room for doubt about the seriousness of the moment. "Don't mess with the Court. The Court is not playing with us now. Get a lawyer."
He also acknowledged the economic challenges faced by many newly arrived immigrants, particularly those who do not yet have a work permit and struggle to afford legal fees.
At this point, the host Tania Costa emphasized that there is no alternative. "I know it's very difficult for those who don't even have a work permit; it's very hard to gather resources. And I know that for newcomers, everything is challenging, but we have to make that effort."
During the same program, Allen also recalled the legal obligation to notify the court of a change of address within five days following a move. Failure to do so may result in a deportation order in absentia or the government attempting to undermine the asylum case. "They could schedule a final hearing on you, try to deport you, or attempt to discredit your asylum," he warned.
Willy Allen's statements come in a context of increased pressure on the immigrant community. According to TRAC data from Syracuse University, legal representation significantly increases the chances of success in immigration courts. In asylum cases decided in the fiscal year 2022, represented applicants were granted asylum in about 49% of cases, compared to 18% of those who appeared without a lawyer.
The program of Willy Allen took place days after USCIS publicly recognized the lifting of the immigration pause ordered by federal judge John McConnell on June 5, which had frozen since January 2026 adjustments of status, naturalizations, work permits, and asylum cases for nationals of 39 countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti.
Allen celebrated the decision as a judicial victory but warned that implementation will be slow and that residency interviews will be more stringent, especially for Cubans with a history of involvement in mass organizations like the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.
At the end of the program, listener Fabiola asked if the Supreme Court might eventually side with USCIS in the case regarding the immigration pause. Allen responded bluntly: "I hope not. In fact, I hope they do not appeal, that they accept it and move on."
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