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The figure below depicts the current case status and outcome of cases for all of Santa Ana's SAFE clients. <br />Figure 3. Case Status and Outcomes <br />Number of <br />Clients <br />Pending Cases <br />33 (72%) <br />Currently Detained <br />8 <br />Currently Released <br />25 <br />Cases that Began Non -Detained <br />21 <br />Released from Detention <br />4 <br />Closed Cases <br />13(28%) <br />Cases Completed in Immigration Court <br />11 (24%) <br />Relief Granted <br />4 <br />Voluntary Departure <br />2 <br />Order of Removal <br />5 <br />Other Closed Cases (e.g., Attorney Withdrawal) <br />2 <br />Total Cases <br />46 (100%) <br />Zealous representation enhances due process and fairness for people facing a system that is unbalanced and <br />unjust. The result of the legal case —whether the client wins the right to remain in the United States or must <br />return to their country —is just one of many important factors in measuring the impact of programs like SAFE. <br />> As important as "winning" can be for clients, it is not the only goal of representation. An important goal <br />is to level the playing field so that everyone has equal access to justice, regardless of their background. <br />When measuring the impact of representation through a due process lens, universal representation <br />achieves success for everyone by ensuring justice is equally available to all. <br />> Clients who receive free universal representation through SAFE and similar programs report that their <br />attorneys treat them with respect and dignity, help them regain trust in public institutions, and restore <br />fairness to an inhumane and unjust system. <br />III. Client Stories <br />Mateo* is a long-time resident of Santa Ana who was detained by ICE in December 2019 and subject to <br />mandatory detention. Using a creative argument based upon a class action decision by a federal court in <br />Los Angeles which held that certain immigration detainers unconstitutional, ImmDef fought to terminate <br />his case by arguing that his due process rights were violated when he was jailed by ICE on such a <br />detainer. While the immigration judge ultimately rejected this argument, his attorney successfully <br />argued for release on bond, and Mateo was granted a $23K bond. He would have never been able to <br />afford such bond; however, Mateo raised enough to pay his bond through community donations and <br />was released from Adelanto in July of 2020. <br />After a referral from the Orange County Rapid Response Initiative, ImmDef took the case of Alejandro,* <br />a resident of Santa Ana since 1995 and the main breadwinner for his family of five U.S. citizen children <br />Vera Center on Immigration+Justice <br />