25G - AGMT - AMEND SAFE CITIES - Laserfiche WebLink

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Amend MOU with Vera Institute of Justice; Amend Agreement with ImmDef Law Center November 5, 2019 Page 2 model that does not prohibit services to any categories of immigrants in removal proceedings other than those based on income requirements. The only criteria ImmDef will use to screen clients for Santa Ana's universal legal representation program is an income eligibility requirement of 200% or below of the federal poverty guidelines, and a Santa Ana residency requirement. DISCUSSION On October 17, 2017, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vera's SAFE Cities Network (VERA) for grant funding eligibility for removal defense services, technical assistance and training, and data collection and research support. At the same meeting, the City Council also approved an agreement with ImmDef to serve as the City's legal service provider (LSP) for the implementation of a universal legal representation pilot program. The pilot program was funded via $65,000 in City funds appropriated by the City Council solely for Santa Ana residents and $100,000 in Vera one-time grant funds for detained removal defense. Vera's grant funds prioritize Santa Ana residents, however may also be used to support removal defense for Orange County residents if additional capacity exists. ImmDef's Santa Ana universal legal representation program opened its Santa Ana office adjacent to the Legal Aid Society of Orange County at 2121 N. Tustin Avenue and became fully staffed and operational in March 2018. Since becoming operational, ImmDef has initiated representation of 44 Santa Ana residents in removal proceedings. Eleven (11) cases have closed, which includes three (3) Santa Ana residents who obtained relief from removal. The other 33 cases remain pending on both the detained and non -detained dockets. ImmDef's clients represent a wide cross-section of Santa Ana residents, including single mothers, fathers, homeless individuals, youth, the elderly and victims of domestic violence. Client examples include a long-time Santa Ana resident single mother fleeing domestic violence, a father of 6 U.S. citizen children, and a young man fleeing his abusive father in his home country. The universal representation model allows ImmDef to provide full -scope removal defense assistance to individuals, regardless of the immigration relief available. Whereas most traditional legal service programs identify eligibility for representation through screening for viable immigration relief, ImmDefs model ensures each client, regardless of potential relief, is given an opportunity to be heard. ImmDef works closely with community -based organizations such as Building Healthy Communities, legal service providers, and other immigration advocates to ensure that the Santa Ana community is made aware of its legal services. Additionally the City of Santa Ana has launched a universal legal representation webpage to inform the community of our partnership with ImmDef, to help bring awareness of the program, and to share progress updates and data collected by Vera. On October 16, 2018, the City Council approved an amendment to the MOU with Vera for an additional year through October 31, 2019. At that same meeting, the City Council also approved an amendment to ImmDef's agreement to provide an additional $80,000 for immigration legal defense services to Santa Ana residents. 25G-2