Department: Community Services
Department Head/Elected Official: Adrienne M. Holloway, Ph.D., Executive Director, Community Services
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): 21/0032
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)
MWDBE Participation (if applicable): N/A
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by Community Services for approval of a contract award to Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services for legal services in support of the Immigrant Legal Services Fund (ILSF) for Harris County in the amount of $499,749.66.
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Background and Discussion:
On November 10, 2020, Harris County Community Services Department (CSD) received Commissioners Court approval to design and implement the Immigrant Legal Services Fund (ILSF) Program in Harris County. Commissioners Court allocated $2,000,000 of Harris County General Funds for the one-year provision of deportation defense legal services, subject to a one-year extension. The services are to be provided by non-profit legal service providers (LSPs) with demonstrated experience in immigration law and removal defense. CSD designed the Program's guidelines and created a Request for Proposal (RFP) following Commissioners Court Order. CSD utilized Harris County Purchasing Department for the procurement process. Purchasing accepted proposals from non-profit immigration legal service providers to deliver direct legal representation to immigrant Harris County residents in detention or facing the threat of deportation.
In October 2021, the legal service providers were selected by an evaluation committee composed of representatives of each County Precinct, the County Judge's Office, several County agencies, as well as non-voting members comprised of community advocates and immigration law experts. Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Se...
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