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EXHIBIT 1 <br />VeraINSTITUTE <br />OF JUSTICE <br />Santa Ana <br />Deportation Defense Fund <br />Request for Proposals <br />Due: December 9 at 11:59 PM PST <br />Overview/Background <br />Across the country, immigrant communities are justifiably living in fear as the Administration's recent <br />policy changes have driven a dramatic increase in arrests and deportations. Local leaders have a duty to <br />keep their communities safe, and communities are safest when residents trust that institutions and <br />officials serve them and know they will be treated fairly. The constitutional guarantee of due process, <br />which applies to everyone residing in the United States regardless of their immigration status, cannot be <br />safeguarded when an immigrant faces the threat of deportation (removal) without the help of an <br />attorney. Providing fair representation in deportation proceedings is the single most effective way to <br />ensure that an individual's right to due process is protected and that families are not needlessly <br />separated without receiving basic protections. <br />The City of Santa Ana is committed to protecting the rights of our immigrant and refugee residents, who <br />are a vital part of our families and communities. To that end, the City of Santa Ana has committed <br />$200,000 of one-time public funds to its legal defense fund, of which $180,000 will be available for <br />disbursement through this Request for Proposals for one year starting on February 1st.' This funding will <br />be available for a program to provide legal representation to detained immigrants facing the threat of <br />deportation, as specified below. <br />In furtherance of this commitment, the City of Santa Ana has been granted membership in the Vera <br />Institute of Justice's Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network —a diverse group of local <br />jurisdictions from around the country committed to due process and to providing legal representation to <br />immigrants facing removal. This funding will be made available for representation for removal defense <br />provided under the universal representation model, with a priority for serving those who are detained. <br />Interested legal service providers (LSP)s should base their proposals on $180,000 of funding for one <br />yea r. <br />Request for Proposal Timeline <br />November 18 <br />RFP distributed to legal service providers (LSP). <br />November 25 <br />Vera will hold a pre -proposal conference call to answer questions <br />related to RFP. To register for this call, please email SAFEPvera.org <br />and we will send you the call -in information. <br />December 2 <br />LSPs may submit written questions via email to SAFEPvera.org by <br />this deadline. <br />December 4 <br />Answers to questions regarding the RFP will be circulated. <br />'Tom a intain funding for cases that commenced during previous years' funding four the City of Santa Ana, $20,000 <br />of the $200,000 has already been allocated. Applicants should plan on a budget of $180,000. <br />251-4 <br />