Oregon lawmakers are considering two bills that would provide $21 million to provide free legal aid to noncitizens and illegal immigrants.
Senate Bill 703 would appropriate $6 million for nonprofits to help eligible immigrant families, such as those protected by DACA, to apply for legal status.
Separately, House Bill 2543 would allocate $15 million to replenish the Universal Representation Fund. Established in 2022 under SB 1543, the fund has already helped 6,500 immigrants in Oregon receive free legal counsel.
Meanwhile, the state faces a severe public defender crisis.
More than 5,500 criminal defendants are now waiting for a court-appointed attorney, according to the Oregon Judicial Department’s dashboard.
Some people facing criminal charges have waited months for a public defender to be appointed, including, in some cases, being held in jail without counsel, according to the Oregon Justice Resource Center….