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removal defense practice that can be leveraged to facilitate the establishment of the new <br />program. <br />'n For representation of immigrants in removal proceedings, describe your plan for <br />implementing a "universal representation model." By "universal representation" we mean <br />that clients are of representation without a preliminary assessment for eligibility of relief, <br />and that clients with criminal convictions are not excluded. Please specify any anticipated <br />criteria for representation (e.g., income eligibility guidelines, geographic restrictions, etc.). <br />a. Describe your plan for client intake. Be specific as to the population(s) that you propose <br />serving and how you will come into contact with clients for the first time. For example, how will <br />you intake detained immigrants and, where applicable, non -detained immigrants in removal <br />proceedings? Will you receive referrals for clients? Will you meet clients initially at the <br />detention facility, or at the court docket? <br />Consistent with Vera's vision, the program would offer representation to clients without a <br />preliminary assessment for eligibility for relief and would not seek to exclude clients on the basis <br />of having criminal history. The anticipated criteria for representation include income eligibility <br />(200% of federal poverty guidelines), and for those individuals who will be represented with <br />funds from the City of Santa Ana, residency in Santa Ana. If additional funding becomes <br />available from other jurisdictions or from private sources, then representation could be extended <br />to detained individuals who are not Santa Ana residents. The City understands that attorneys in <br />the program may reach capacity at some point during the first year, in which cases decisions <br />regarding representation and prioritization will be left to the discretion of the legal service <br />provider. <br />Client intake would take place primarily through on-site visits at the two facilities where ICE <br />detainees will be housed in Orange County: the James A. Musick facility in Irvine, and the Theo <br />Lacy facility in Orange. Currently, a Legal Orientation Program (LOP) run by the Public <br />Counsel Law Center takes place on a monthly basis at Musick, and it is possible that LOP may <br />be initiated at Theo Lacy in the upcoming year through an initiative by the non-profit <br />organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Assuming that LOP at either or both facilities <br />operate, then attorneys could perform case intake through the LOP. Given that many deportation <br />cases do not reach the immigration courts, intake at the detention facilities is critical and will <br />enable attorneys to assist clients who would be otherwise subject to summary removal (e.g., <br />expedited removal, reinstatement, stipulated removals). <br />In addition to client intake at the detention facilities, intake may also take place in Santa Ana to <br />permit family members and friends of detained individuals to bring cases to the attention of the <br />program. The program would also receive referrals from other non-profit organizations in the <br />area. <br />8) How would a one-time catalyst grant (e.g., of $100,000) augment your plan to provide <br />removal defense services? How could such a grant help you build a program that will be <br />sustainable over time? <br />The one-time catalyst grant will provide a critical supplement to funding removal defense <br />20A-6 <br />