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STAND FOR JUSTICE <br />June 8, 2017 <br />RE: Support for City of Santa Ana Inclusion in Vera Institute of Justice SAFE <br />Cities Network and Universal Legal Representation for Detained Immigrants <br />To whom it may concern: <br />The ACLU of Southern California is pleased to submit this letter supporting the City of <br />Santa Ana's proposal for one-time matching funds and inclusion in the Vera Institute of Justice's <br />SAFE Cities Network, a program designed to encourage localities to fund universal legal <br />representation for detained immigrants facing deportation. <br />The ACLU of Southern California is at the forefront of local, state and national efforts to <br />protect all immigrants from unlawful imprisonment, discrimination and law enforcement abuses, <br />and to ensure that they are afforded their due process rights to a fair hearing and access to legal <br />assistance in immigration proceedings. As part of those efforts, the ACLU of Southern <br />California has also been a leading advocate for state and local funding to provide universal legal <br />representation for low-income immigrants facing deportation. The ACLU of Southern California <br />has maintained a strong presence in Orange County, with one of its three offices based in Santa <br />Ana. As an organization that routinely works with immigrant communities in Orange County, <br />we are deeply aware of the harts caused by deportation and detention. Our organization is <br />regularly contacted by Santa Ana residents whose family and/or friends have been detained or <br />deported, and we have provided advocacy where possible, but do not have the resources to <br />provide representation to every low-income person who contacts us for assistance. <br />There is a critical need in Orange County for an organization that provides legal <br />representation to detained immigrants who cannot afford attorneys. The ACLU of Southern <br />California is prepared to fully support the creation of an OC Justice Fund that will facilitate the <br />creation of a nonprofit entity that provides this much-needed legal representation. The ACLU of <br />Southern California's strong commitment to the OC Justice Fund is demonstrated by its <br />willingness to serve on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit entity to ensure that detained <br />Chair Shari Leinwand 1st Vice Chair Richard Barry 2nd Vice Chair Susan Adelman <br />Chairs Emeriti Canny Goldberg Attan K. Jonas' Burt Lancaster` Irving Lichtenstein, MC` Jarl Mohn Laurie Ostrow' Stanley K. Sheinbaum Stephen Rohde <br />Executive Director Rector 0. Vittagra Chief counsel Mark D. Rosenbaum Deputy Executive Director James Glitiam <br />Director at Philanthropy Julia Weinstein Director of Strategic Partnersships& Marketing Vicki Fox <br />Legal Director & Manholes Family Attorney for First Amendment Rights Peter J. Etiasherg Deputy Legal Director Ahilan T. Arutanantham <br />Director of Paticy Advocacy Clarissa Woo Diractercf community Engagement Elvia Meta Executive Director Emeritus Ramona Ripston 'deceased <br />1313 WEST EIGHTH STREET LOS ANGELES C90X? tbt3.977.9500 f 213.977.5299 ACLUSOCAL.ORG <br />