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Immigration Legal Defense Options <br />May 16, 2017 <br />Page 3 <br />Individuals to seek assistance from inexperienced, unlicensed, or unqualifled professionals who <br />often exploit them, causing additional fear and distrust. Some of these service providers, for <br />example, hold themselves out to be lawyers when in fact they are not licensed to practice law. <br />2. The City Should Take Actions That Will Build Trust with the Community <br />Community members also expressed that lack of trust, in conjunction with fear, prohibit <br />individuals from coming forward to obtain assistance that they may need. Often trust in <br />government is minimal due to preconceived notions brought with people from their place of birth <br />or misinformation about the role of local government In relation to the federal government. <br />Community members feel strongly that a partnership with grass roots organizations and/or <br />religious organizations may go a long way In building trust with the community because these <br />organizations have more day-to-day contact with residents than local or county government. <br />3. <br />a) <br />In Los Angeles, a pro bona law firm named Immigrant Defenders Law Center advocates <br />for universal representation in immigration matters and functions as a type of public defender <br />system for immigrants facing deportation. The Immigrant Defenders Law Centers is supported by <br />the Vera institute for Justices, Georgetown University Law Center, USC Gould School of Law, <br />Crittenton7, Skadden Foundations, MALDEF, California Community Foundation, and the <br />Episcopal Church In the Diocese of Los Angeles. Several of the legal practitioners that attended <br />the March 8th meeting advocated for a partnership with Immigrant Defenders Law Center and/or <br />supporting an expansion of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center to the Orange County area. <br />That option would likely require some monetary support from the City and/or non-profit entities <br />but has the advantage of a faster start-up. <br />b) Establish a Joint Powers Authority <br />California Government Code section 6502 allows two or more public entities, if authorized <br />by their governing boards or legislature, to enter into an agreement to jointly exercise any power <br />common to the contracting parties. The parties may also create a separate entity entitled a joint <br />powers authority. Government Code section 6503.5. A joint powers agreement or a joint powers <br />www.bnmddors <br />6 bttp://www.vemorw <br />? bttp://crlttentomocal.org/wbut-we-do%omm city-based-saMces/ <br />I haps://vnm.aksddtarollowsWps.oW <br />65A-3 <br />20A-13 <br />