The Denver Foundation is seeking applications for the Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund to help the immigrants to access fair legal representation and due process, and provide grants to nonprofit organizations that offer direct legal representation to low-income Denver residents who face potential deportation.
Donor Name: The Denver Foundation
State: Colorado
County: Denver County/city (CO)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/03/2022
Details:
The Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund was established in March 2018 as a special project fund at The Denver Foundation. Its purpose is to increase legal services to Denver’s immigrant community by providing grants to qualified nonprofit organizations with grants to:
- Offer direct legal representation to immigrants in detention and/or subject to removal proceedings;
- Provide affirmative relief to individuals seeking help with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and various visa programs; and/or
- Support capacity building or other innovative projects to help organizations increase the pool of probono or low bono immigration attorneys available to represent immigrants.
Grant Categories
- Category 1: Removal defense for individuals who are detained at the Aurora Detention Facility and those released from the facility who have cases pending in Denver Immigration Court.
- Defense includes high-quality representation at all stages of immigration court proceedings, including master calendar hearings and bond hearings, detained removal, non-detained removal after release, Board and Immigrations Appeals (BIA), remands from the BIA, and state court proceedings related to immigration relief, transfer of venue proceedings for transfer to Denver Immigration Court, collateral proceedings incident to removal defense, and any costs associated with defense.
- Category 2: Affirmative relief and removal defense for people not in detention.
- Affirmative relief includes legal screening, consultation and representation for individuals seeking assistance with DACA, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SJIS), asylum, U visas and T visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protections, family and labor petitions, and naturalization. Support can also be used for consultations for individuals whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is being terminated to determine if they are eligible for a different type of relief, or, to defend TPS revocation in Immigration Court.
- Category 3: Building capacity for direct legal representation.
- Expanding the pool of pro bono immigration attorneys.
- Expanding the pool of “low bono” immigration attorneys.
- The use of law school clinics and law students to provide assistance to immigrants.
- Other innovative projects that increase legal representation for immigrants.
For the applicants applying in Category 1 must:
- demonstrate a strong record of providing high-quality legal representation to immigrants facing removal.
- have licensed attorneys with immigration law expertise on staff or under contract who will directly provide the services described in this application. Demonstrate that all professionals (attorneys, BIA accredited representatives, social workers, etc.) involved in providing services under this contract have the appropriate professional licenses and are in good standing professionally.
- demonstrate the ability to consult with/represent clients in the Aurora Detention Center.
For the applicants applying in Category 2 and Category 3 must:
- demonstrate a history of working with the prioritized populations. Organizations with prior experience providing similar services will be given priority.
Eligibility Criteria
Funds may only be used to support individuals who:
- are residents of the City and County of Denver (a “resident” is an individual living in the State of Colorado who can verify his or her presence in the City and County of Denver for at least 60 days).
- have a household income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- present with viable claims, or need advice of counsel, or are offered removal defense representation without an initial screening based on eligibility for relief. Services can also be offered to individuals for affirmative relief or defense from removal.
- are facing removal proceedings should be individuals facing an immigration court proceedings.
Who Can Apply?
Nonprofit groups based in the Denver area with 501(c)(3) status in good standing with the IRS and State of Colorado with:
- demonstrated knowledge of the Denver immigrant community, including populations that are most vulnerable to immigration enforcement action (e.g., arrest, detention and removal).
- strong working relationships with a diverse network of community-based organizations, legal service providers, and faith-based institutions that have direct contact with immigrants.
- previous experience and capacity to collaborate with key partners, such as legal services providers, law firms, bar associations, and private attorneys to promote greater access to legal services.
For more information, visit The Denver Foundation.
