SF Public Defenders Office to add 4 positions for immigration cases after 3.4M donation

San Francisco has accepted a $3. 4 million grant from the Crankstart Foundation to enhance its legal resources for immigrants, funding three immigration attorneys and a paralegal in the Public Defender’s Office Immigration Defense Unit until February 2029. This grant responds to increased deportation risks stemming from the Trump administration's immigration policies, which target immigrants with legal status. City officials have resisted federal pressure to share data on immigrant residents, engaging in legal battles to protect local funding. Although immigrants have a right to legal counsel for removal hearings, they must finance this representation, as there is no federal funding for those who cannot afford it.

The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office launched one of the nation’s few publicly funded teams dedicated to defending immigrants in 2017. Data from the Vera Institute of Justice highlights that approximately 600,000 Bay Area residents could be at risk of deportation. Immigrants with legal representation have significantly better chances of winning their cases. The city remains committed to protecting its immigrant communities amidst federal threats.