Denver ready to spend $200,000 on legal defense for immigrants, including DACA

Known as the Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund, it’s meant to support people who are facing deportation or who need other legal help.

Andrew Kenney

Mar. 19, 2018, 9:08 a.m.

Denver’s city government today will launch a $200,000 fund that will help immigrants get lawyers through a nonprofit.

Known as the Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund, it’s meant to support people who are facing deportation or who need other legal help. That includes providing lawyers for young people trying to keep their DACA status.

The idea has been in development since at least last year. Mayor Michael Hancock mentioned it in an executive order and later included $100,000 for it in a budget proposal.

The Denver City Council upped the ante, voting in November to double the city’s spending to $200,000. The program also will be supported by $100,000 from the Vera Institute, $30,000 from the Rose Community Foundation, $50,000 from the City of Denver Support Fund and $5,000 from the Denver foundation, for a total of $385,000.

The program will be run by The Denver Foundation.

Separately, Denver council members have banded together to create a similar fund for people facing eviction.

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“We get to talk about what is important to preserve. What do we want to have as an identity to pass down so people can have pride in their community, and realize that they’re a part of a huge, beautiful story? Every one of us here is part of the story of the Rossonian, and part of the story of the Pek, and the places that have come before.”