The majority of our clients are legal permanent residents who have been in the United States for decades. While anyone convicted of one of 170 crimes would be denied legal assistance under the mayor’s proposal, not all of the enumerated crimes, like those involving illicit drugs, are violent. And the remainder would be denied assistance even though they had taken responsibility, had already served their time and could show that they had been rehabilitated. The vast majority of our clients are not sent to immigration court from Rikers Island or the precinct. When we are the ones responsible for sending people to immigration detention and immigration court, shouldn’t we at least provide them with a lawyer to help make sure that the law is being applied to them fairly and properly?

Source: Huffington Post June 13, 2017 17:46 UTC