DATE:
December 5, 2023
22
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
ENDING TAXPAYER FUNDED DEPORTATION DEFENSE FOR CRIMINAL NONCITIZENS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Historically, San Diego County (County) has served as a welcoming binational border community. Our region continues to welcome thousands of refugees and immigrants from all over the world. The diversity of our County's residents benefits us culturally, socially and economically. We have a responsibility to protect these new arrivals to our country from becoming victims of crime, of which research shows they are at a greater risk.
In May 2021, the Immigrant Rights Legal Defense Program (IRLDP) was approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors and implemented by the County. The IRLDP has been funded at a level of $5 million annually beginning Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22, to provide free legal defense to detained individuals facing deportation. As established, the program did not create any eligibility criteria for participants to receive a county-funded immigration legal defense - the program is described by County staff as "merit-blind."
Upon thorough review of the first annual IRLDP report, I learned that County funds are being used to provide free legal defense in immigration court for non-citizens with very serious criminal convictions. In fact, the report specifically mentions 34 individuals who have convictions related to criminal activities that include:
* Trafficking Controlled Substances which could include fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, or other drugs (8)
* Money Laundering (1)
* Aggravated Felony Convictions which could include drug offenses, murder, or rape (13)
* Controlled Substances Offenses which could include fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, or other drugs (3)
* Trafficking which could include humans or drugs (1)
* Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT) which could include murder, rape, aggravated assault, child abuse, domestic violence (6)
* Multiple Criminal Convictions (...
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