The District will award $2.5 million in grant funding to provide legal help to undocumented residents and, for the first time, assist those detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Tuesday that funding will be awarded to 22 local organizations that offer legal services for immigrants in the District. Last year, D.C. provided $900,000 in funding to organizations that provide services and resources to the District’s immigrant population, but it didn’t apply to immigrants who were detained. This year, the grant program will help immigrants who are in the process of being deported and weren’t detained for serious criminal offenses.
“Washington, D.C. remains committed to protecting our residents, and this year’s expanded investment allows us to partner with more community organizations to assist residents with a wide range of issues,” Bowser said in a statement.
