D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, on Monday was to announce plans to award grants to defense lawyers and nonprofit organizations to represent any of Washington’s estimated 25,000 illegal immigrants who are faced with deportation.
The fund will also help illegal immigrants in D.C. apply for asylum, and it will provide representation for those residing in the city legally on green cards to stay permanently, by obtaining U.S. citizenship.
In a statement, Bowser said the city is “doubling down” on its status as a sanctuary city, where D.C. police have already been instructed to not cooperate with federal authorities working to deport residents.
“We must ensure that all District [of Columbia] residents can take advantage of their federal and constitutional rights,” Bowser said. “If immigration enforcement changes and problems arise, DC’s immigrant population will have our support and the support of DC’s legal community.”
Bowser’s announcement puts D.C. alongside Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the state of New York, where Democratic mayors, governors and legislatures have in recent weeks approved or pledged to create similar public-private defense funds for illegal immigrants.
In Washington, Bowser will launch the initiative by directing $500,000 from her office budget to a new Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant Program. Nonprofits, private organizations, associations and law firms in Washington will all be eligible to win the grant money. Groups can begin applying Jan. 23, the first Monday Trump will be in the White House.
Image: Washington Post
