Mental Health Evaluations in Immigration Court: A Guide for Mental Health and Legal Professionals

The book Mental Health Evaluations in Immigration Court examines the growing role of mental health professionals in the immigration system, who conduct forensic mental health assessments and provide support for immigrants in detention centers. It addresses psycho-legal and forensic issues that arise in immigration court and other immigration applications and offers suggestions for future scholarship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

Immigration court plays a crucial role in the lives of immigrants, as they often face deportation or "removal" proceedings upon arrival in the United States. For those who have been in the country for many years, the prospect of legal status through an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a significant avenue to pursue. However, the process of seeking immigration relief can be emotionally and psychologically challenging, particularly for those with mental health concerns.

Mental Health Evaluations in Immigration Court, a timely and important contribution to the study of immigration court from a psychological perspective, delves into the growing role of mental health professionals in the immigration system. These professionals conduct forensic mental health assessments that are used as psychological evidence for applications for deportation relief, write affidavits for the court about the course of treatment they have provided to immigrants, help prepare people emotionally to be deported, and provide support for immigrants in detention centers.

Immigrants who appear in immigration court, often without the assistance of an attorney due to financial constraints, rely heavily on mental health professionals to advocate for their rights and interests. Mental health professionals can play a vital role in supporting an immigrant's plea for asylum, assisting an immigration judge in making decisions about hardship, competency, or risks for violence. However, there are a host of psycho-legal and forensic issues that arise in immigration court and other immigration applications that have not yet been fully addressed in the field.

This book aims to provide an overview of relevant issues likely to be addressed by mental health and legal professionals. It addresses the need for comprehensive mental health evaluations in immigration court, the challenges faced by immigrants with mental health concerns, and the role of mental health professionals in advocating for their clients. The book also offers suggestions for future research and policy initiatives to improve the treatment of immigrants with mental health issues in the immigration system.

In conclusion, Mental Health Evaluations in Immigration Court is a valuable resource for mental health professionals, legal practitioners, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between immigration law and mental health. By examining the growing role of mental health professionals in the immigration system, the book provides insights into the challenges faced by immigrants with mental health concerns and offers suggestions for improving their treatment and legal outcomes.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479802616