Bay Area Short On Chinese-Speaking Deportation Lawyers As ICE Court Arrests Rise

Mission Local reports a severe shortage of Cantonese- and Mandarin-speaking deportation attorneys in the Bay Area as Chinese arrivals have surged since 2023–24. With only a handful of qualified lawyers, many asylum seekers file weak applications, rely on unlicensed consultants or AI-generated filings, and face higher detention and removal risk amid aggressive ICE courthouse tactics. Advocates warn that language and cultural competency are critical for accurate claims and due process. Recent crackdowns on notario fraud underscore the widening gap and exploitation risk.