Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-847

JUD 847

Immigrant Legal Defense

Mr. Gómez, Ms. Miranda, Messrs. Mark, Lewis, Eldridge and Keenan, Ms. Edwards, Messrs. Payano and Fernandes, Ms. Jehlen, Ms. Rausch and Mr. Oliveira moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after item XXXX-XXXX the following item:

XXXX-XXXX For the implementation of an immigrant legal defense program to provide immigration legal services to eligible low-income immigrants and refugees who are in federal immigration removal proceedings without access to immigration legal representation; provided, that funds shall be administered by the office for refugees and immigrants and awarded through a competitive grant program to legal service providers with immigration law expertise, including but not limited to nonprofit organizations and private law firms that employ qualified immigration attorneys and federally-approved accredited representatives and paralegals; provided further, that legal service providers shall provide individualized immigration services at no cost to the individuals receiving such services and prioritize services for individuals in immigration detention and individuals at imminent risk of deportation; provided further, that legal representation shall continue if the individual is transferred by federal immigration authorities to another state; provided further, that recipients of legal services shall be residents or domiciliaries of the commonwealth or be in immigration detention in the commonwealth and shall have an annual gross income not in excess of two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated periodically by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000,000