One of the most important actions that localities can take to protect immigrant residents is to make sure anyone facing deportation has an attorney. According to one study, immigrants with legal help were up to 12 times more likely to win their cases. But unlike criminal court, immigrants in immigration court aren’t guaranteed an attorney. Ohio officials, however, are working to change this.
Since its October 2017 implementation, the Columbus Families Together Fund has helped connect nearly 70 immigrants with attorneys, and hundreds others with know-your-rights presentations. It’s particularly needed in the state—”there are only 35 attorneys in Ohio who offer low-cost or no-cost representation to immigrants living in the U.S. illegally,”The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Because immigration doesn’t just affect undocumented immigrants, “it’s really important for helping to stabilize others it may affect,” said council member Elizabeth Brown. “One in six children in Columbus has at least one immigrant parent. That’s 75,000 children, and the vast majority are U.S. citizens. We’re talking about how the full impact they have is far larger.”
The initiative has also received $100,000 in funding from Vera’s SAFE Cities Network, which seeks to increase representation in other areas across the U.S. Not only is making sure that immigrants have representation the just and humane thing to do, its beneficial to all, because these are families that are part of our neighborhoods and cities.
“We care about our immigrant and refugee community,” council member Brown continued. “We see that they exist here and add to the quality of our life and the fabric of our community. Because we see that, we’ve taken steps to make sure those who need it have representation.”