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City Manager Office <br />https://www.santa-ana.org/cm <br />Item # 28 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />March 16, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Immigration Legal Defense Services <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Approve an Agreement with Immigrant Defenders Law Center For Immigration Legal <br />Defense Services for a Two-Year Term in an Amount not to Exceed $400,000 (General <br />Fund) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Immigrant Defenders Law <br />Center to provide immigration legal defense services to Santa Ana residents, for a term <br />beginning March 16, 2021 and ending January 31, 2023, in an amount not to exceed <br />$400,000, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City <br />Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Background <br />On October 17, 2017, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with <br />the Vera Institute of Justice to join their SAFE (Safety and Fairness for Everyone) Network <br />to be eligible for one-time funding to support immigration legal defense services, along <br />with on-going technical assistance and training, data collection, and research support. At <br />this same meeting, the City Council also approved an agreement with Immigrant <br />Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) to serve as the City's legal service provider (LSP) to <br />provide immigration legal defense services. These services are provided under the <br />universal representation model, which is publicly funded deportation defense for all. <br />Under the universal representation model, ImmDef has provided full-scope removal <br />defense assistance to individuals, regardless of the immigration relief available. Whereas <br />traditional legal service programs may identify eligibility for representation through <br />screening for viable immigration relief, the universal representation model ensures each <br />client, regardless of potential relief, is given an opportunity to be heard. ImmDef works <br />closely with community-based organizations, such as Building Healthy Communities, <br />legal service providers, and other immigration advocates to ensure that their services are <br />accessible to the Santa Ana community.