Photo: Getty Images South America
Among U.S. southern border town, San Diego County is the first to pay legal fees for immigrants who are facing deportation proceedings.
“Today we celebrate a historic milestone for civil and human rights in San Diego County with the launch of this immigrant legal defense program,” said Norma Chavez Petterson, executive director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. “Every San Diegan can be proud that this county is the first on the entire 2,000-mile U.S. southern border to provide detained immigrants access to counsel.”
Although funding for the program was approved last year, the program which will provide free legal services was just launched on Thursday.
The program will cost $5 million per year, and San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer says the County Board of Supervisors has committed to supplying additional funds if needed. “We have a commitment at the board and from my colleagues, we’re going to be funding the program at full capacity,” said Lawson-Remer. “If the need is greater than that, we’re going to be there.”
The County says that 80% of migrants facing deportation can't afford an attorney. The new program is meant to make the legal system more efficient and promote fairness.
Michael Garcia, Chief Deputy Public Defender with the County of San Diego insists that the program benefits the legal system. “Our program was established not to promote illegal immigration, but exactly the opposite, it’s meant to promote the lawful application of our immigration laws and to due process within all our courtrooms in the County of San Diego.”
Immigrants' rights groups believe the program will help immigrants more easily navigate the asylum process. At the
“Today we celebrate a historic milestone for civil and human rights in San Diego County with the launch of this immigrant legal defense program,” said Norma Chavez Petterson, executive director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. “Every San Diegan can be proud that this county is the first on the entire 2,000-mile U.S. southern border to provide detained immigrants access to counsel.”