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*z f 140)* ®A 9970 — Proside"d Ede M. Domingum Prdidmt-Eleni: Dorrell P. Wider Vico Profde rd Yolanda Tmaa Crot Andre Do La Crux seeraum Bettina Yonez Immediate Past PraaldeaR Lyo Fieoeres 2417 Board of Wanton Kate BusNmame Jimmy CAW Ivan Cimoms Stein Goaedn Harm Jemima oarcia carelino Ginn" Diana Gomeolu Beverly Manmade Nicholas Myers Cluistim F, Peoria Leo Pmaiado Galulnla Ramirez Setba Tymkowicz Krision Ziedsut Post Presidents: Michael 1. silvan Frederick A Aguinn Gregory Munoz wnliace R. Davie Jest Amajo Albert Mercurio Frank L Valdez salvadorsannimto David A. Vallee Diana Nmlby Vaides Gilboet Mmmin, Maurice Sanchez Ricbard Asmnndariz Atacdo M.Ajoenun Anon M. Clsiwms Rubors&Smidr Gensga W. A" Roberta Jurado Jon0i L. Chains Cory Aguirre Dorsen o. Aitken Claudia Atvanx Jahn J.lmm Jn91de Dente Fabm Cabema Fededeosoym lead Leda Lisa D. Romimn Laren C Pension Nor oe0arda Guilidn Momma a Ltdoschik CadesxCdomda Gmoveva Maze, Tatima JasoGonzoiez Mayto sontame - Dim Lop" Rarad Ncnde4Floms HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION OF ORANGE COUNTY P.O. Box 6130, Newport Beach, CA 92658 Telephone: (949)478-1024 Fax: (949) 440-6710 E-mail: infoA&1ochba.crr Web: www.ochba.orn June 6, 2017 Vera Institute of Justice 233 Broadway 12th Floor New York, NY 10279 RE: City of Santa Ana proposal to Vera Institute of Justice SAFE Cities Network Dear Vera Institute Official: The Orange County Hispanic Bar Association is dedicated to promoting excellence in providing legal services with a social conscience; providing coordinated services to the general and local community; and to fostering goodwill within the community. For more than forty years, the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association has partnered with community organizations, including a recent Memorandum of Understanding with the Mexican Consulate, and served as a resource for the community to express its concerns regarding the state of legal services in Orange County. It is with this experience in hand that can attest to the drastic need for legal services to immigrants facing deportation in Orange County. Among the factors we hope the Institute will consider when considering the City of Santa Ana's proposal: • A recent study by the California Coalition for Universal Representation demonstrated, immigrants detained in California who have an attorney are five times more likely to succeed in their cases than those who do not, • Moreover, another study by the coalition found that thousands of children in California are at risk of ending in the broken foster care system upon the detention and/or deportation of a parent, causing trauma that can have long-term health consequences. • Nearly 70 percent of detained immigrants in California go unrepresented in their deportation cases because they cannot afford an attorney. • In November 2016, Homeland Security's Office of inspector General reported a list of problems with the Theo Lacy Facility (an Orange County Detention Center) including; spoiled lunch meat, moldy shower stalls, broken telephones, and detainees with low-level crimes or no criminal records housed with serious offenders. • Even after local communities demonstrated their support for pro -immigrant policies and the adoption of a"sanctuary city" ordinance in the City of Santa Ana, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan to rent 120 additional detention beds to ICE. Such policies have permanent and lasting effects on our communities that we must work together to prevent. We understand that the City of Santa Ana has an opportunity to seek a one-time, matching grant from the Vera Institute of Justice, to help fund a legal representation program for immigrants in detention who are facing deportation. As a bar association who works extensively with private practitioners and area non-profit organizations to participate in pro bono efforts, we can personally attest to the lack of qualified removal defense professionals with capacity to sustain the increased need for 20A-36