Immigration Legal Defense Services

The City of Santa Ana (City) is seeking qualified Legal Service Providers to provide removal defense services and appellate representation services. The City advocates for the “universal representation” model of removal defense. Under this model:• Every person facing imminent threat of deportation is represented by an attorney.• Where resources are limited, representation for those in detention is prioritized.• There are no eligibility criteria other than income and a lack of private counsel. Akin to public defense in criminal cases, no one is excluded on the basis of a prior criminal conviction, residency outside of the funded jurisdiction, or any other reason.• Representation is merits-blind. Clients are represented without considering the likelihood that the case will have a “successful” outcome in immigration court.• Representation is continuous and begins at the onset of the case. Attorneys represent clients until there is a final decision on the case: from bond hearing to hearings challenging underlying criminal convictions or other collateral proceedings, through to appeal. This continuity of representation exists even if the person is transferred to a different jurisdiction or voluntarily moves upon release from custody.• Public taxpayer dollars fund representation. Protecting the basic right of due process is a public duty. Investing public money is also critical to sustaining and institutionalizing universal representation locally while building toward a national system of deportation defense..