Primary Department: Managed Assigned Counsel
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Porscha Brown
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable):
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MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Choose an item.
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Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by the Office of Managed Assigned Counsel for approval to create one Attorney V (Immigration Attorney) position, as well as a supplemental budget for the position, effective March 7, 2026.
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Background and Discussion:
This funding request is for an Immigration Attorney position to expand MACs immigration services and increases its ability to manage new immigration case referrals, provide representation, thorough support to MAC-Appointed Attorneys in particularly on time sensitive referral requests & advocacy for indigent-noncitizen clients. The Imm. Atty will provide legal advice to clients and written Padilla advisals to appointed attorneys on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions/dispositions for indigent noncitizens represented by MAC-AA to ensure compliance with their ethical obligations under the Supreme Court case Padilla v. Kentucky. The Imm Atty evaluates the circumstances related to potential conviction in the context of a clients specific immigration status which incl. but is not limited to whether a client would be deportable, able to return to the U.S. after travel abroad, eligible to obtain immigration status in the future, subject to mandatory detention if arrested by Immigration & Customs Enforcement, & eligible to naturalize in the future. The Imm. Atty may suggest alternative pleas that would reduce/eliminate immigration consequences and conducts CLE instruction for MAC-AA and liaises w/the immigration bar to provide referrals & support to clients who need representation for immigration cases.
Form 3441 is attached to this request. The MAC also requests OMB to provide funding for such position in the amount of $89,432 plus a $5000 non-labor for various licenses, CLE, and subscriptions for the remaining pay periods in this FY and a recurring non-labor expenses of $5,000.
The MAC does not require space for such position.
Expected Impact:
Non-jail advisal timelines are expected to decrease by approximately 50%, reducing downstream time and cost impacts by minimizing repeat court settings and limiting reliance on outside private counsel. The approach eliminates single-point-of-failure risk by ensuring coverage during staff leave and medical absences, while providing consistent access to high-quality immigration advisal’s.
Alternative Options:
No other appropriate options due to lack of specialized training.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): D3: Improve outcomes for indigent defendants through holistic services and connections to necessary resources.
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Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
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Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
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Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 3/7/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Porscha Brown, Executive Director
Elizabeth A. Mendez, Administrative Assistant
Attachments (if applicable): 3441