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City Manager’s Office <br />www.santa-ana.org/city-managers-office <br />Item # 24 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />January 17, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Immigration Legal Defense Services <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Approve an Amendment to the Agreement with Immigrant Defenders Law Center For <br />Immigration Legal Defense Services for a Two-Year Term in an Amount not to Exceed <br />$400,000 (General Fund) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the agreement with Immigrant <br />Defenders Law Center to provide immigration legal defense services to Santa Ana <br />residents, for a term beginning February 1, 2023 and ending January 31, 2025, in an <br />amount not to exceed $400,000, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the <br />City Manager and City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />On March 16, 2021, the City entered into an agreement with Immigrant Defenders Law <br />Center (ImmDef) to serve as the City's legal service provider (LSP) to provide <br />immigration legal defense services. These services are provided under the universal <br />representation model: providing publicly funded universal representation for anyone in <br />immigration proceedings who cannot afford a lawyer (akin to public defense in criminal <br />cases). Whereas traditional legal service programs may identify eligibility for <br />representation through screening for viable immigration relief, the universal <br />representation model ensures each client, regardless of potential relief, is given an <br />opportunity to be heard. ImmDef works closely with community-based organizations, <br />such as the Orange County Rapid Response Network, Resilience Orange County, <br />Santa Ana - Building Healthy Communities, the Public Law Center, legal service <br />providers, and other immigration advocates to ensure that their services are accessible <br />to the Santa Ana community. <br />ImmDef's clients represent a wide cross- section of Santa Ana residents, including <br />single mothers, fathers, homeless individuals, youth, older adults, and victims of <br />domestic violence. Client examples include a long-time Santa Ana resident single