Immigration Lawyers 2014: San Francisco to Vote on Aiding Immigrants with Legal Counsel
The San Francisco government is close to approving a $2.1 million legal representation program for undocumented minors and parents facing deportation.
The county board of supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the funding, spread out over two years, to provide legal representation for the unaccompanied minors and adults with children, the Huffington Post reported.
The measure will be voted on again next Tuesday before being sent to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's desk for final approval.
Although the federal government does not provide this opportunity to undocumented immigrants, the recent wave of Central American migrants, most of which were unaccompanied minors, resulted in a higher need for the service.
The Obama administration's request for funding to address the border crisis, which included $15 million from Congress for legal representation for minors, was denied.
More than 66,000 children crossed the border illegally since the beginning of last October, Huffington Post reported.
Since the overflow of undocumented immigrants, and the massive political debate following the discovery, the number of families crossing has dropped significantly.
Some efforts by the U.S. Border Patrol has also helped -- such as the arrest of more than 200 "coyotes" or smugglers.
But the minors who have made it over the border face deportation, though 40 percent of those are eligible for reprieve, and research has shown that legal representation increases their chances of staying.
The Justice Department teamed with AmeriCorps, resulting in 100 attorneys and paralegals being brought in to represent the immigrants, as well as an announcement last week of $1.8 million in grants towards the effort.
The Obama administration has now urged the attorneys to provide pro bono services for the minors.
But San Francisco isn't alone in its efforts, some states and their governors are encouraging help similarly.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley asked attorneys to provide legal representation, California lawmakers have proposed a bill to fund the legal counsel, New York Attorney General Kamala Harris asked law firms to provide help, and New York City has said it will post representatives at federal immigration court to help unaccompanied minors, according to the Huffington Post.
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