Montgomery County Divided over Undocumented Immigrant Legal Aid

A Tuesday night hearing about a plan to have $373,000 in legal aid set aside for low-income immigrants facing the possibility of deportation from the US in Montgomery County was packed with residents and heated debate over the issue, with dozens of testimonials in front of the County Council from those for and against the idea.

Legal aid programs have been launched or expanded in areas such as Chicago, Atlanta, and Prince George’s County and Baltimore in Maryland. Montgomery County is considering whether to do the same. The all-Democrat council last month introduced a new special appropriation to give $373,000 from the county’s general fund to Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, a nonprofit organization based in DC, which offers lawyers to immigrants in detention facing the prospect of deportation.

Immigrants with convictions for certain serious crimes would not be eligible for the program. Council president, Hans Riemer said comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level is what the US should be focused on. The council took no action at the meeting, and no vote has yet been scheduled for the measure.

During two hours, 40 speakers gave testimony, resulting in applause and hisses from the audience. Around half agreed with the budget and the other half were against it, believing that the money would be better spent providing services for residents who have the legal right to live in the US.