NIHI consists of two main components.

• Intensive in-person training. The first is an intensive two-day in-person training designed to prepare experienced immigration attorneys—with little to no prior federal court experience—to litigate immigration habeas petitions in federal court. Attendees will receive rigorous, hands-on training on common and emerging issues in habeas litigation taught by the nation’s leading scholars and litigators. NIHI will host trainings in three cities in its inaugural year.
• Pro bono placement and mentorship. In return for the free training and CLE credits, attendees agree to litigate at least one pro bono habeas petition referred by NIHI, and with the support of a NIHI mentor, in the year following their training. Attendees may have the option to self-refer one of their own clients with habeas claims, or to be referred a case from NIHI’s pool of previously vetted cases.

NIHI is proud to announce that applications for its next training, to be held at the Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Lousiana on June 8-9, 2026 are now live. This training is co-sponsored by the Tulane Immigrant Rights Clinic and is designed specifically for immigration attorneys who practice in Louisiana and Texas.

More information

Given the overwhelming demand for NIHI's trainings and the limited in-person capacity, NIHI has professionally produced video recordings of the four core plenary sessions for our past Second, Third, and Ninth Circuit trainings. These videos will enable expanded access to some, but not all, of the sessions available in live NIHI trainings. Non-profit practitioners can apply to access the training videos free of charge. Private practitioners will be charged a fee of $400 for access to the suite of four training videos. Both types of practitioners can apply to request access here. 

If granted, practitioners will be afforded access to: 

• Recordings of the four core plenary sessions from past trainings (each approximately 1.5 hours in length). These sessions are lead by the NIHI faculty, comprised of top habeas litigators from around the country. The topics covered in these videos include: a step-by-step explanation on habeas basics, how to draft & file habeas petitions, how and whether to pursue emergency or interim relief, and how to anticipate and respond to common government arguments.
• Sample pleadings, briefing, and practice materials related to each of the four core sessions. 

Lawyers who work for, or in any way collaborate with, federal immigration authorities are not eligible to apply for access. NIHI will endeavor to review and response to requests to access within 7 days of receipt of your request. Please lookout for an email from us after you've submitted your request with a decision on your application and instructions about next steps.