Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael Callagy, Assistant County Manager
Subject: Funding for Legal Services Agencies Supporting Immigrants Residing in San Mateo County
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution waiving the request for proposal process and authorizing an agreement with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County to provide legal services supporting immigrant residents of San Mateo County for the term of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 in an amount not to exceed $276,000.
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BACKGROUND:
According to the American Community Survey, a third of San Mateo County residents are foreign-born and many of these residents have children who are United States citizens. These immigrants are important to the vitality of our community and to the San Mateo County economy. Given current conditions, the County has identified a need for legal services to support our immigrant populations.
These needed services include legal workshops providing immigrants with information on topics such as their rights, the path to citizenship, and immigration benefits (e.g., relief for crime victims, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), Special Immigrant Juveniles, Asylum, removal defense).
In addition, the services would involve brief individual consultations and assistance to screen immigrants for potential benefits and to make appropriate legal referrals.
Finally, such services would include assisting immigrants in applying for certain forms of immigration relief, such as special immigrant juvenile status (for abused and abandoned youth), U visas (for crime victims), and DACA benefits, and with responding to immediate and initial needs of immigrants and families affected by enforcement operations (e.g., assisting in locating detained family members, negotiations relating to bond and assistance with bond hearings and legal referrals).
The Legal Aid Society and certain of its...
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