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Q&A
Council Member Avilés questions MOIA about Rapid Response Legal Collaborative funding and services
3:13:05
·
3 min
Council Member Alexa Avilés inquires about the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative program, which offers legal support to individuals at risk of detention and deportation. MOIA officials provide information on the program's funding, number of people served, and current challenges.
- The program served 88 screenings in FY2025 and has a waitlist, though the exact number is unknown.
- The program is fully funded by city dollars, with no state funding contribution.
- MOIA has not specifically requested additional funding for this program from OMB, despite the increasing flow of deportation cases.
Alexa Avilés
3:13:05
In terms of the rapid legal The Rapid Response Legal Collaborative, we know that this program offers legal supports to individuals who are detained or at immediate risk of detention and deportation.
3:13:20
Particularly those who have not had or do not have the opportunity to appear before an immigration judge or are subject to expedited removals which we are seeing happening quite a lot.
3:13:34
The executive plan includes 500,000 in fiscal year twenty six for this program and the funding remains unchanged compared to last year's adoption.
3:13:44
In fiscal twenty five, the council allocated an additional 1,200,000.0 to three providers for this program.
3:13:51
Can you tell us how many people this program served in fiscal twenty five?
Manuel Castro
3:13:59
So before Lorena answers this question, I see Lucedo answers this question just to clarify, while Moya has not shown up to the courts or any of the other sites, Our providers, the nonprofits that we contract to work directly with the immigrant community, are in constant communication with their clients about any risks that they might face as they show up to court or to their check ins and so forth, which is essential to do this work prior to any instance that they may be able that they may face non local law enforcement and possible action.
Alexa Avilés
3:14:41
Yeah.
3:14:42
No.
3:14:42
The providers are underwater.
3:14:44
That's why we requested such a significant expansion of legal services support because the city is expecting the providers to do everything and then some without sufficient support.
3:14:56
So yes, they are there but I would like to know as a city agency who provides counsel and guidance to other city agencies, how are you engaged with court personnel if we see this continuing harm that is being done in the court system here?
3:15:19
So I was asking specifically how Moya is engaging with the courts around this issue.
3:15:30
So can we get back to how many people the program served, the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative?
Lorena Lucero
3:15:36
In FY twenty five there were 88 screenings.
Alexa Avilés
3:15:48
And are there any wait lists for this program?
Lorena Lucero
3:15:53
I'm gonna say yes.
3:15:55
Yes.
Alexa Avilés
3:15:55
Do you know how many people are on wait list?
Lorena Lucero
3:15:57
I don't but I can try to get that before the hearings up.
Alexa Avilés
3:16:04
When when the rapid response program first launched, it was shared as priority for a city and state.
3:16:10
Has the state continued to fund this program or is it just fully funded with city dollars?
Jasniya Sanchez
3:16:16
It's fully funded by city dollars.
Alexa Avilés
3:16:23
Okay.
3:16:23
So given the flow of deportation cases, has Moya formally requested additional funding for the rapid response legal collaborative from OMB?
Jasniya Sanchez
3:16:36
We continue to be in close conversations with them.
Alexa Avilés
3:16:40
But did you ask them for additional funding for this program in particular?
Jasniya Sanchez
3:16:45
Not in particular, legal services.