Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Family Success Administration
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute First Amendment to Agreement No. 20-FSAD-LASBC-2, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, between Broward County and the Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc., adding an additional one-year option period from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023 in the amount of $150,000 to continue the provision of legal assistance to individuals subject to immigration detention and their resulting immigration proceedings; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Agreement as amended.
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Why Action is Necessary
Agreements with external agencies require approval by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”).
What Action Accomplishes
This action allows Broward County residents who would be unable to retain private counsel to continue receiving legal assistance addressing immigration issues that impact family stability.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE FAMILY SUCCESS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This action supports the Commission’s value of “approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately with special emphasis on the most vulnerable,” and the goal to “deliver evidence-based services to the public, and connect customers and their family members, to sustainable support, with special emphasis on financial supports.” This action allows Broward County residents subject to immigration detention to continue to receive legal assistance addressing immigration issues to promote family stability.
Broward County entered into an Agreement with Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc., (“LASBC”) on December 3, 2019, to fund services in LASBC’s Immigration Unit that address family separation cases associated with immigration detainers.
Under this Agreement, one attorney works with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) to identify detainees at the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale and the Broward Transitional Center ("BTC") in Pompano Beach who are separated from their families and who qualify for immigration relief in immigration court. By visiting detainees in the Broward County Jail, the attorney screens for family separation situations early to reduce the time that the family remains separated. The attorney applies for an immigration bond for the detainee once they are in ICE custody and detained at BTC. Once released from BTC, the attorney will continue to represent the noncitizen in their immigration court proceedings to obtain interim relief, such as a work permit, and permanent relief, such as a Permanent Resident Card. A paralegal assists the attorney in communicating with the families and in preparing and filing bond motions and applications for relief.
LASBC has screened and assisted 449 detainees through April 30, 2022.
The last option period for this Agreement ends on September 30, 2022. The addition of one option period beginning on October 1, 2022, for Fiscal Year 2023 will allow the services to continue with the recommended funding for one more year. The Commission has allocated an additional one-time non-recurring $150,000 for these services in the Fiscal Year 2023 recommended operating budget.
This amendment will be approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
Ismael A. Martinez, Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-6367
Natalie Beasley, Assistant Director, Family Success Administration Division, (954) 357-6367
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funds in the amount of $150,000 for this extension period are included in the Fiscal Year 2023 recommended operating budget.