Of all the immigrants facing deportation, less than 40% have legal representation.
This is a problem. For example, in the United States, anyone who is facing a criminal charge, has a right to a lawyer, regardless of his or her immigration status. However, undocumented immigrant cases are not considered criminal charges, therefore, their cases don’t qualify for representation from an attorney.
For this reason, The Vera Institute of Justice began the SAFE Cities Network. The Vera Institute is a non-profit dedicated to improving the justice systems that ensure fairness. The SAFE Cities Network is currently composed of 11 cities that will provide public defense to immigrants facing deportation. Two of those cities are Texas communities: Austin and San Antonio.
A study done in New York called New York Immigrant Family Unity Project revealed that the success rate of cases without legal representation was less than 4%.
A study done in New York called New York Immigrant Family Unity Project revealed that the success rate of cases without legal representation was less than 4%. Those with legal representation had a success rate of nearly 40%. The SAFE Cities Network aims to create more justified outcomes in the cases of immigrants facing deportation.
This type of project is valuable for cities like San Antonio and Austin because of the current S
The complete list of cities is for The SAFE Cities Network includes:
- Atlanta GA
- Austin TX
- Baltimore MD
- Chicago IL
- Columbus OH
- Dane County WI
- Oakland/Alameda County CA
- Prince George’s County MD
- Sacramento CA
- San Antonio TX
- Santa Ana CA
To read the entire press release from VERA.org click on this link. https://www.vera.org/newsroom/press-releases/safe-cities-network-launches-11-communities-united-to-provide-public-defense-to-immigrants-facing-deportation
The Lozano Law Firm provides a wide variety of Immigration legal services including deportation services.