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• <br />PUBLIC LAWC ENTER <br />PROVIDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE <br />FOR ORANGE COUNTY'S LOW INCOME RESIDENTS <br />June 5, 2017 <br />RE: Support for City of Santa Inclusion in Vera Institute of Justice SAFE Cities Network and <br />Universal Legal Representation for Detained Immigrants <br />To whomever this may concern; <br />The Public Law Center is pleased to submit this letter supporting the City of Santa Ana's <br />proposal for one-time matching funds and inclusion in the Vera Institute of Justice's SAFE Cities <br />Network, a program designed to encourage localities to fiord universal legal representation for <br />detained immigrants facing deportation. <br />Public Law Center is an organization that routinely works with immigrant communities in <br />Orange County, as a result we are deeply aware of the barns caused by deportation and <br />detention. Public Law Center's Immigration Unit was founded in 2004 to provide free legal <br />services to immigrant trafficking and domestic violence victims. Since then, the Immigration unit <br />has expanded its service to include asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, immigrants seeking <br />to naturalize, and undocumented immigrants who are eligible under the current DACA program. <br />Our organization is regularly contacted by individuals whose family and friends have been <br />detained or deported, and although we have provided representation where possible, we do not <br />have the resources to serve everyone who contacts us for assistance. Thus, we strongly support <br />the City of Santa Ana's effort to be included in the Vera Institute of Justice's SAFE Cities <br />Network. We agree that in order to keep families together and communities strong, cities, such as <br />the CIty of Santa Ana, should be funding counsel for immigrants facing deportation who cannot <br />afford an attorney. <br />Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jacquelyn Santos at (714) 541-1010 <br />extension 230. <br />Thank you for your consideration. <br />04 <br />forgdlk Alvarado <br />Director of Litigation, Training and Advocacy <br />601 Civic Center Drive West • Santa Ana, CA 42701-4002 � 1714) 541.1010 • Fax (714)541-5157 <br />20A-35 <br />