Legal Representation for Immigrants at Risk of Removal

CONSUMER AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS

County Spending Category
1.6 Direct Community Investments
Federal Expenditure Category
Economic Impact Assistance: Other
Project Launch Date
05/02/2022
Anticipated End Date
05/29/2025
Interpretation Languages
  • Spanish
Written Languages
  • Spanish
  • Korean
  • Tagalog/Filipino
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Vietnamese
Project Contacts Indicators & Metrics Target Populations Project Description Goals & Objectives

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Provide legal representation for survivors of labor trafficking
    13
  • Provide legal representation for immigrants experiencing homelessness
    212
  • Provide legal advice/counsel to immigrants at risk of removal
    0
  • Legal representation for abused, neglected &/or abandoned children
    0
  • legal representation for individuals in active removal proceedings
    557
  • Prepare applications for asylum seekers
    7
  • Provide case management, resource linkage, and/or benefits enrollment support for immigrants and impacted family members
    0
  • Lead contractor submits quarterly report with service delivery data from all subcontractors
    4
  • Provide legal representation for immigrants experiencing homelessness
    0
  • Lead contractor utilizes data portal (developed in consultation with OIA at ongoing program management meetings) to provide progress on program outcomes
    0
  • Provide legal orientation services to immigrants in removal proceedings
    0
  • Provide pro se work permit application preparation and filing assistance.
    0
  • Provide pro se asylum application preparation and filing assistance.
    0

Target Populations

  • Systems Impacted Individuals
  • People Experiencing Homelessness

Project Description

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated health, housing and economic disparities for Los Angeles County residents. The Legal Representation for Immigrants at Risk of Removal project being administered through the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs' (DCBA) Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) will mitigate the impact of the pandemic by providing funds to a lead contractor to implement the four project pillars: detained removal defense, non-detained removal defense, affirmative immigration benefits representation, and community support. Services will support vulnerable immigrant groups that struggle to obtain legal representation through existing funding sources and programs. This includes detained immigrants, as well as immigrants experiencing homelessness, survivors of labor exploitation, asylum seekers, and children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by a parent. Immigrant workers are overrepresented in “essential” workplaces and service industries that bore the brunt of the economic downturn at the outset of the pandemic. The individuals receiving services in this program represent that most marginalized and/or linguistically isolated immigrant groups have been deeply impacted by the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The community support pillar will ensure that services reach these historically marginalized groups to facilitate their recovery from the pandemic. Services will be rendered by nonprofit legal service providers and community-based organizations (CBOs) who have become indispensable trusted messengers and providers of direct relief during the pandemic. This includes the distribution of economic relief aid, food, COVID testing and vaccination, and housing assistance. These CBOs have also addressed community concerns about “public charge," a major barrier that has severely impacted the willingness of immigrant households to access vital support during the pandemic. A recent national survey showed that 49% of immigrant households declined to access a needed benefit program or service during the pandemic due to public charge concerns. While the 2019 public charge rule has been rescinded, the same survey indicated that 75% of households are still impacted by the rule change because they are unaware that it has been rescinded and/or still believe it may impact them in the future. The program will address this misconception through legal orientation, individual legal intake, and case management to ensure clients and their households access the benefits they are eligible to receive. The project will also fund administrative and staff costs to develop and implement since August 2021.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description A successful immigration outcome is defined as (1) obtaining relief from an immigration judge, or avoiding deportation through termination, dismissal or administrative closure of removal proceedings; or (2) obtaining lawful immigration status, including permanent residence or other status (Temporary Protected Status, deferred action or other status) for an individual not in removal proceedings by December 31, 2024.

Objective Description To provide immigration legal representation and linkage to essential support services to underserved, marginalized immigrant groups at risk of deportation by December 31, 2024.

Activity Description Provide immigration legal representation to underserved, marginalized immigrant groups at risk of deportation by December 31, 2024.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
3 Program Outcome Legal representation for abused, neglected &/or abandoned children 68.00
4 Program Outcome Provide legal representation for survivors of labor trafficking 24.00
5 Program Outcome Provide legal representation for immigrants experiencing homelessness 24.00
6 Program Outcome Prepare applications for asylum seekers 32.00
11 Program Outcome Prepare applications for asylum seekers 0.00 52.00
12 Program Outcome legal representation for individuals in active removal proceedings 0.00 248.00
13 Program Outcome Legal representation for abused, neglected &/or abandoned children 0.00 85.00
14 Program Outcome Provide legal advice/counsel to immigrants at risk of removal 0.00 250.00
15 Program Outcome Provide legal representation for immigrants experiencing homelessness 0.00 30.00
16 Program Outcome Provide legal representation for survivors of labor trafficking 0.00 30.00

Activity Description Provide legal orientation and pro se application preparation services to immigrants in removal proceedings.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Service Delivery Provide legal orientation services to immigrants in removal proceedings 0.00 1500.00
1 Service Delivery Provide pro se work permit application preparation and filing assistance. 0.00 500.00
1 Service Delivery Provide pro se asylum application preparation and filing assistance. 0.00 200.00

Activity Description Provide linkage to essential support services to underserved, marginalized immigrants at risk of deportation by December 31, 2024.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
7 Program Outcome Provide case management, resource linkage, and/or benefits enrollment support for immigrants and impacted family members 0.00 200.00

Outcome Description The outcomes OIA seeks to achieve are obtaining work authorization and lawful immigration status for immigrants in LA County immigrants, and increasing their access to vital County benefits and services. Project outcomes support the desired project result of immigrants in Los Angeles County being able to live and work without fear of deportation, thereby improving their ability to hold down stable jobs and increasing their household income.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
8 Performance Lead contractor submits quarterly report with service delivery data from all subcontractors 0.00 4.00