Immigration Legal Defense & Wrap Around Services

August 14, 2018 Resolution B2018-224

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the transfer of $100,000 in 2018 and 2019 from the unallocated general account to the Policy and Planning Division to provide programmatic, ongoing support to promote the familial and community stability, civic engagement and economic potential of immigrants and refugees, and ensure that families with a loved one going through immigration proceedings are connected to available county services.

November 06, 2018 Resolution B2018-293

The County Manager’s Office was authorized to apply for and execute any resulting agreements associated with a funding match of up to $100,000 from the Vera Institute’s SAFE (Safety and Fairness for Everyone) Cities Network including technical assistance, program performance and outcome monitoring, streamlined program administration, and strategic support of the immigration legal defense fund.

Additionally, the County Manager drafted a Public Comment for submission by the Chair, on behalf of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to the public charge ground of inadmissibility, published in the Federal Register on October 10, 2018.

February 26, 2019 Resolution B2019-054

A Joint Powers Agreement with City of Saint Paul for Immigrant Services was approved, authorizing the City’s transfer of $50,000 to the County for the purpose of providing immigrant legal defense services, for the period from December 1, 2018, through December 31, 2019.

July 23, 2019 Resolution B2019-172

The Board of Commissioners accepted the one-time catalyst grant of $100,000 from the Vera Institute of Justice and approved the Sole Source Agreement with the Vera Institute of Justice, 233 Broadway 12th Floor, New York, NY 10279, for professional services for the period of July 24, 2019 through July 23, 2020 for a total of $250,000 over the term of the agreement.

October 3, 2019 Community Information Session

The County Manager’s Office in collaboration with Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health hosted a community meeting at Hamline Midway Library. Discussion and feedback from community members and organizations were collected and used to develop the application process for the 2019 funds. Focus areas were shared and considered when selecting agencies to partner with.