Presented by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees
Universal representation is the belief that every person, regardless of immigration status, deserves due process of law and therefore is entitled to legal representation. According to the Vera Institute, in recent years, 70% of immigration cases have lacked representation. The longer immigrants are detained, the greater the toll on not just the detainees themselves, but that of their families. Areas of impact can include loss of income, degradation of mental health, or losing access to medical care. Although universal representation does not guarantee the outcome of a case, it can reduce harm and ensure that the dignity of detainees is protected.
Across the nation, organizations at the local and state levels are using a variety of tools, from legal services, to organizing, base-building, and advocacy, to advance universal representation. In this webinar, funders will learn from the on-the-ground experts about their efforts to champion universal representation and how philanthropy can resource and support their work.
For more information and to register, visit the event page.