Willy Allen Warns: Facing Final Court Without a Lawyer Almost Guarantees Deportation

Attorney Willy Allen issued a stark warning on Wednesday to Cuban immigrants facing merit hearings in U.S. immigration courts. He emphasized that appearing without legal representation in such proceedings practically ensures deportation.

Addressing a viewer named Liliana directly, Allen was unequivocal: "If he's going to a merit court, which is the final court, and he doesn't have a lawyer ready to defend his asylum, Liliana, I don't know what to tell you, he's going to be deported."

Allen described it as a "mistake" to attend this critical stage of the process without representation and highlighted that the outcome also depends on the specific judge and court where the hearing is held. "It's very difficult to win asylum alone. Who is the judge? Where is the court? It's a mistake to go to the final court without a lawyer," he stressed.

The lawyer left no room for doubt about the seriousness of the situation. "Don't play with the court. The court isn't playing with us right now. Go with an attorney."

Economic Challenges for Immigrants

He also acknowledged the financial challenges many newly arrived immigrants face, especially those who haven't yet received work permits and struggle to afford legal fees.

On this point, host Tania Costa insisted there is no alternative. "I know it's very difficult for those who don't even have work permits; it's very difficult to save up. And I know that being newly arrived, everything is very difficult, but you have to make that effort."

Legal Obligations and Risks

During the same program, Allen also reminded viewers of the legal obligation to notify the court of a change of address within five days of moving. Failure to do so could result in a deportation order in absentia or the government attempting to discredit an asylum case. "They could schedule you for a final hearing, try to deport you, or attempt to discredit your asylum," he warned.

Allen's statements come amid increased pressure on the immigrant community. According to Syracuse University's TRAC Immigration data, having legal representation significantly increases the likelihood of success in immigration courts. In asylum cases decided in fiscal year 2022, represented applicants were granted asylum in approximately 49% of cases, compared to 18% for those who appeared without a lawyer.

Implications of Recent Judicial Decisions

Allen's program aired days after USCIS publicly acknowledged the lifting of the immigration pause ordered by federal judge John McConnell on June 5, which had frozen status adjustments, naturalizations, work permits, and asylum cases for nationals of 39 countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti, since January 2026.

Allen hailed the decision as a judicial victory but cautioned that implementation will be slow and that residency interviews will be more stringent, especially for Cubans with a history of involvement in mass organizations such as the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.

At the end of the program, listener Fabiola asked whether the Supreme Court might eventually side with USCIS regarding the immigration pause. Allen answered candidly: "I hope not. In fact, I hope they don't appeal, that they accept it and move on."