Laserfiche WebLink
ASIAN A,'ALRiCANS <br />ADVANCING <br />� jwSTICE <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />June 6, 2017 <br />RED Support for City of Santa Inclusion in Vera Institute of Justice SAFE Cities Network and Universal <br />Legal Representation for Detained Immigrants <br />To whom this may concern: <br />Asian Americans Advancing Justice -Orange County (AAAJ-OC) is pleased to submit this letter supporting <br />the City of Santa Ana's proposal for one-time matching funds and inclusion in the Vera Institute of Justice's SAFE <br />Cities Network, a program designed to encourage localities to fund universal legal representation for detained <br />immigrants facing deportation, <br />AAAJ-OC's mission is to advocate for civil rights, provide legal services and education, and build <br />coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Americans, Nmivc Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). <br />Immigration related services has been a cornerstone of our organization since its founding in 1983. We continue to <br />be a leading advocate for immigrant right issues at the state level, championing bills that focus on immigrant <br />integration, services, and language rights. <br />AAAJ-OC is housed in Santa Ana, Orange County to strategically serve hard to reach AANHPI <br />communities. With over a half million Asian Americans, Orange County is home to the nation's third-largest Asian <br />American population. In Santa Ana, Asian Americans saw a population growth of 36,324 (14%) from 2000 to 2010. <br />The Asian American population is more immigrant than any other racial group in Orange County. Currently, there is <br />an estimated 250,000 undocumented immigrants in Orange County with 15% from Asia. <br />The AAAJ-OC office has stopped up to meet the needs of the growing AANHPI immigrant community by <br />increasing internal legal capacity. Our organization is currently holding weekly immigration clinics, has held <br />citizenship fairs with partner organizations, has taught Know -Your -Rights presentations, as well as has spoken in <br />forums hosted by community groups and local elected members. Currently, AAAI -OC in partnership with <br />Resilience OC, is working together with Congressmember Alan Lowenthal's office to urge ICE to grant Mr. <br />Ourmukh Singh, a resident of Garden Grove, a stay of removal. <br />There is a critical need in Orange County for an organization that provides legal representation to detained <br />immigrants who cannot afford attorneys. AAAJ-OC, an expert in cultural competence for AANHPI communities, <br />supports die universal representation of a culturally and linguistically diverse population not only in Santa Ana but <br />all of California. <br />Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Katelyn Ogawa, Policy Coordinator, <br />kouawa@advancincjustico-oc.org. Thank you for your consideration. <br />Yours <br />truly, <br />c If 'Lc� <br />Sylvia Kim <br />Regional Director, AAAJ-OC <br />Building upon the legacy of the Asian Pacific American legal Center <br />1620 East 4- Street, Santa Ann, CA 92701 T 714.507.2050 mine advancingiustice-oc.org+OC <br />20A-42 <br />