COOK COUNTY FY2021 PROPOSED BUDGET COMMITS FUNDING TO IMMIGRATION UNIT EFFORT LED BY COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER ALMA E. ANAYA
Public Defender Immigration Unit Would Become Largest Such Unit in the Country
Chicago, IL – Despite the ongoing fiscal challenges brought on by the pandemic, today Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle released the Budget Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2021. Among the recommendations, $350,000 is committed to the Office of the Public Defender for the establishment of an Immigration Unit. Commissioner Anaya is proud to have led efforts on the Cook County Board of Commissioners to ensure funding for this unit, which will, if approved, by the County Board in November, become the largest in the country.
This is a momentous advancement for the rights of immigrants involved in the criminal justice system in Cook County. The unit would launch its work based on providing guidance to immigrants defendants with criminal cases on the collateral immigration consequences of their pleas. This type of counsel is based on the Padilla v. Kentucky Supreme Court case which mandates such representation.
Commissioner Anaya traveled with Public Defender Amy Campanelli and members of the Defenders for All Coalition in January 2020 to learn about best practices from the Immigration Unit leadership and staff at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. She has continued to advocate for this effort in the community and with the Board of Commissioners.
Anaya, whose District includes the Cook County Leighton criminal courthouse and is home to the largest foreign-born population, believes that this funding will have an incredibly positive impact on both the criminal and immigration law outcomes of the immigrant community in Cook County. “I am confident that once approved, Cook County would once again be a national leader in protecting immigrants. This goes beyond a matter of protecting immigrant rights; it is also an important investment in the long-term well-being of our communities.”
The Cook County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget on November 24, 2020.
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