CHICAGO — Months after Chicago officials established up a $1.3 million fund to boost legal services for immigrants facing deportation, there’s been a big spike in immigrants with legal representation, a study has found. The percentage of immigrants represented by lawyers at deportation hearings jumped from 30 per cent in May to 57 per cent in August, the Chicago Tribune reported citing a Syracuse University study. Over 1,500 Chicago residents have received free legal screenings, while immigrants have had representation in court for 766 cases. The Chicago fund, dispersed to non-profit groups like the Chicago-based National Immigrant Justice Center, is designed to help with legal screenings, education and legal representation. Some questioned why Chicago would divert money to the fund that had been set aside for little-used homeowner rebate program.

Source: National Post November 05, 2017 16:18 UTC