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Court Approves Amendment to Immigration Legal-Defense Contract; Program to Prioritize Children and Families, Agency Says
Summary
County amended and extended its agreement with American Gateways to continue immigrant legal-defense services; the provider said it will prioritize cases with the greatest benefits for county residents, including detained children and families.
The Commissioners Court approved an amendment extending the county's immigration legal-defense contract with American Gateways and clarified screening and prioritization language in the amendment.
Justin Julius and American Gateways counsel described a change to remove a universal-representation clause so the provider can prioritize cases by likely benefit to county residents (for example, cases involving U.S.-citizen children or imminent homelessness). "Universal representation... has been taken out," counsel said, adding the revision allows American Gateways to prioritize cases where the county connection and benefit are clearest.
American Gateways attorneys said much of the current workload involves detained children and families; they cited successful releases of children and family reunifications that the fund supported. Laura Flores Dixit, an attorney with American Gateways, said the program helped obtain release for six children in detention and that most clients represented by the contract have no criminal history. Commissioners debated the policy and some members voiced objections to public funds for immigration-defense work; after discussion the court approved the amendment.
