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Amend MOU with Vera Institute of Justice; Amend Agreement with <br />Immigrant Defenders Law Center <br />October 16, 2018 <br />Page 2 <br />provider due to their extensive experience in providing immigration legal defense using the <br />universal representation model. Universal legal representation refers to a removal defense <br />model that does not prohibit services to any categories of immigrants in removal proceedings <br />other than those based on income requirements. The only criteria ImmDef will use to screen <br />clients for Santa Ana's universal legal representation program is an income eligibility requirement <br />of 200% or below of the federal poverty guidelines, and a Santa Ana residency requirement. <br />DISCUSSION <br />On October 17, 2017, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with <br />Vera's SAFE Cities Network for grant funding eligibility for removal defense services, technical <br />assistance and tranining, and data collection and research support. At the same meeting, the <br />City Council also approved an agreement with ImmDef to serve as the City's legal service <br />provider (LSP) for the implementation of a universal legal representation plilot program. The pilot <br />program was funded via $65,000 in City funds appropriated by the City Council solely for Santa <br />Ana residents and $100,000 in Vera one-time grant funds for detained removal defense. Vera's <br />grant funds prioritize Santa Ana residents, however may also be used to support removal <br />defense for Orange County residents if additional capacity exists. <br />ImmDefs Santa Ana universal legal representation program opened its Santa Ana office adjacent <br />to the Legal Aid Society of Orange County at 2121 N. Tustin Avenue and became fully staffed <br />and operational in March 2018. Since becoming operational, ImmDef has initiated representation <br />to 17 Santa Ana residents in removal proceedings. Three cases have closed, which includes one <br />Santa Ana resident who obtained relief from removal. The other 14 cases remain pending on <br />both the detained and non -detained dockets. With the initial pilot program funding, ImmDef <br />anticipates providing representation to a total of 35 to 40 residents. <br />ImmDefs clients represent a wide cross-section of Santa Ana residents, including single <br />mothers, fathers, homeless individuals, youth, the elderly and victims of domestic violence. <br />Client examples include a long-time Santa Ana resident single mother fleeing domestic violence, <br />a father of 6 U.S. citizen children, and a young man fleeing his abusive father in home country. <br />The universal representation model allows ImmDef to provide full -scope removal defense <br />assistance to individuals, regardless of the immigration relief available. Whereas most traditional <br />legal service programs identify eligibility for representation through screening for viable <br />immigration relief, ImmDefs model ensures each client, regardless of potential relief, is given an <br />opportunity to be heard. ImmDef works closely with community-based organizations such as <br />Building Healthy Communities, legal service providers, and other immigration advocates to <br />ensure that the Santa Ana community is made aware of its legal services. Additionally the City of <br />Santa Ana has launched a universal legal representation webpage to inform the community of <br />our partnership with ImmDef, to help bring awareness of the program, and to share progress <br />updates and data collected by Vera. <br />25E-2 <br />