Vera Institute of Justice

04/17/2026

Since taking office for the second time, President Trump has dismissed more than 100 immigration judges, many with experience representing immigrants. He’s also tapped military lawyers to serve in their place.

The immigration court system should be an independent and impartial judiciary. But right now, it’s anything but that, as Trump pressures judges who don’t align with the administration’s push to expedite deportations.

Judges are ordering an unprecedented number of people deported after coming under significant pressure from the administration to do so or risk losing their jobs.

04/17/2026

A dark history of using fear and exclusion to push immigrants out of the U.S. is repeating itself right now. Instead of visible raids, policies are making daily life more difficult for immigrants, blocking access to housing, jobs, financial systems, and public education funding.

The impact of this strategy, commonly known as self-deportation, affects everyone. It separates families and strips communities of workers and beloved neighbors. It pushes immigrants, who contribute greatly to this country, out and back to places where they may face danger and harm.

Self-deportation is an idea with deep roots. It’s making a comeback.

04/17/2026

In response to the updated immigration proposal Governor Hochul introduced today, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Hon. Karines Reyes, RN issued the following statement continuing to call for nothing short of full protections under New York for All:

“This approach—probable cause without due process—will continue to endanger immigrants and people who ‘look like’ immigrants alike. It’s an abandonment of the democratic values we’ve fought so hard to protect.”

The full must pass NOW. Anything less keeps immigrant communities at risk of serious harm and cruelty. Read their full statement here:

Keeping New Yorkers safe requires stopping that collusion in all its forms—half-measures simply aren’t enough.

04/16/2026

What if United States prisons centered human dignity over harsh punishment?

Vera experts sat down with The Last Mile to talk about our Restoring Promise initiative, tracing its origins from a 2015 visit to prisons in Germany and other European countries to its work today to transform prison cultures and better prepare people for life after release.

Watch the episode now:

Prison is designed to be a fundamentally abnormal experience—one that removes autonomy, suppresses individuality, and restructures daily life around control ...

04/16/2026

As cruel immigration enforcement continues to expand, deportation cases and its consequences are becoming more complex and severe. In the words of Vera’s Liz Kenney, “There is a due process crisis right now happening in our immigration system.”

A coalition of litigators and immigration attorneys in is working together to navigate the constantly changing policies, continuing to fight for people facing deportation’s right to due process and fair day in court.

More people are being detained by ICE, but more than half don’t have attorneys to help them.

04/16/2026

In the 1990s, both parties agreed: build more prisons, lock more people up. It didn't make us safer. And yet, here we are again.

"Opportunistic politicians pulled out the 1990s playbook, which asserts that we need to be arresting and putting people behind bars to deliver safety." — Nick Turner, President, Vera Institute of Justice

But most Americans don't want that. Our polling shows majorities support mental health treatment, getting illegal guns off the street, and holding police accountable. The public is ready for something better. The question is whether leaders will offer it.

Vera’s president, Nick Turner spoke with Neil Barsky of The Marshall Project in The New York Times about how we got here, and what it will take to break the cycle: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/opinion/prison-reform-public-safety.html

04/16/2026

"Everyone deserves a fair day in court. By fully funding immigration legal services and passing the ARA and BUILD Acts, New York can protect its workforce, stabilize its economy, and uphold justice for all.”—Michael Hogan, business manager and secretary-treasurer, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 4

More than 90,000 immigrant New Yorkers are forced to navigate the immigration court system without legal representation, putting families, workplaces, and entire communities at harm.

It is critical that New York lawmakers act decisively NOW. That means investing $175M in immigration legal services and passing the Access to Representation and BUILD Acts. Together, these solutions ensure access to representation, protect families, and uphold justice for ALL.

By fully funding immigration legal services and passing the ARA and BUILD Acts, New York can protect its workforce, stabilize its economy, and uphold justice for all.

04/15/2026

Too many people endure inhumane conditions in United States prisons, without receiving the support they need to prepare for successful reentry. But what if we did things differently?

From Vera's work creating prison housing units grounded in dignity to The Last Mile's technical training initiatives, programs across the U.S. are showing that it's possible to improve prison conditions and reduce recidivism.

Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law highlights the data supporting these efforts:

Preliminary studies suggest that innovative programs could improve prison conditions and outcomes after release.

04/15/2026

Traffic enforcement is one of the most common ways people interact with the justice system—and a key site for rethinking safety, equity, and accountability.

We’re excited to see Vera’s Daniela Gilbert join this year’s Convening on Right-Sizing Traffic Enforcement with Policing Project - NYU School of Law where leaders from across the country will explore how to move beyond traditional enforcement and advance more equitable approaches to public safety.

Join the conversation on April 27 and 28:

Please join us for the 2026 Convening on Right-Sizing Traffic Enforcement which will include plenary sessions serving municipal leaders, researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders who want to collaborate on sharing promising new practices and charting a course forward

04/15/2026

‼️ICE has arrested 811 immigrants in since August.

➡️ 85% do not have a criminal history
➡️ 24% of arrests were ‘collateral arrests’, taking people simply for being nearby

Though ICE claims it targets those accused of the most serious offenses, newly obtained data analyzed by THE CITY NY tells a different story about the agency’s cruel and indiscriminate enforcement operations.

One in four ICE arrests were of people who weren’t targeted, and three quarters of targeted arrests involved people with no criminal convictions or pending charges.

04/14/2026

“Each sprout was a quiet victory, and each harvest was a reminder that, even in unexpected places, growth was possible.”

Mario Monteiro spent more than two decades in prison for a crime he committed at 17. During that time, gardening gave him a sense of purpose. Now, he plants trees full-time—bringing life and beauty to communities across Rhode Island.

Read his story:

Mario Monteiro Was Incarcerated at 17. Prison Gardening Grew Him Up.

04/14/2026

Good news: Maryland's state legislature just passed the Fair Chance Housing Act—joining New Jersey in having the strongest statewide protections against housing discrimination for formerly incarcerated people. The bill now heads to Governor Wes Moore’s desk to sign into law.

“We applaud Maryland’s legislators for recognizing that people with a conviction history should not face a lifetime of discrimination when it comes to something as fundamental as a place to live.” —John Bae, director of Vera's Opening Doors to Housing initiative

This legislation sets guidelines for landlords when considering an applicant’s conviction history during the rental screening process, including postponing background checks and limiting their scope.

Everyone deserves a fair chance at housing, and this is an important step toward limiting discrimination against housing applicants with conviction histories.

(NEW YORK, NY) April 14, 2026 — Today, the Vera Institute of Justice applauds the Maryland General Assembly for passing the Fair Chance Housing...