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L.A. legal fund to fight immigrant deportations draws criticism over who deserves representation
Fearing mass deportations under President Trump, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and County Supervisor Hilda Solis stood together in December to unveil a $10-million fund to hire lawyers to defend local immigrants without legal status.
Modeled after programs in other cities, the L.A. Justice Fund will use city and county money and private donations to help those facing deportation proceedings.
But a proposal to bar immigrants with violent criminal convictions from using the fund is sparking protests from immigration advocacy groups, legal organizations and others in Los Angeles who argue that everyone has the right to an attorney.
The disagreement over who deserves legal representation is the latest issue to divide political leaders and progressive groups.
Some of the same groups fighting the L.A. Justice Fund’s criminal conviction provision also criticized Garcetti's refusal to label Los Angeles a “sanctuary city.”
The debate over the L.A. Justice Fund mirrors the battle over a statewide legal fund under consideration by the state Legislature. That program, passed by the Senate earlier this month, also bars those with violent criminal convictions...
Of course, every illegal immigrant is a criminal.
Fearing mass deportations under President Trump, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and County Supervisor Hilda Solis stood together in December to unveil a $10-million fund to hire lawyers to defend local immigrants without legal status.
Modeled after programs in other cities, the L.A. Justice Fund will use city and county money and private donations to help those facing deportation proceedings.
But a proposal to bar immigrants with violent criminal convictions from using the fund is sparking protests from immigration advocacy groups, legal organizations and others in Los Angeles who argue that everyone has the right to an attorney.
The disagreement over who deserves legal representation is the latest issue to divide political leaders and progressive groups.
Some of the same groups fighting the L.A. Justice Fund’s criminal conviction provision also criticized Garcetti's refusal to label Los Angeles a “sanctuary city.”
The debate over the L.A. Justice Fund mirrors the battle over a statewide legal fund under consideration by the state Legislature. That program, passed by the Senate earlier this month, also bars those with violent criminal convictions...
Of course, every illegal immigrant is a criminal.
