Who we are
The SAFE Initiative (Safety & Fairness for Everyone) is a unique collaboration among governments, immigration legal service providers, and advocates working together to build a movement for universal representation—a public defender system for all immigrants facing deportation. SAFE has catalyzed momentum for local- and state-funded deportation defense and driven a national movement toward federal systemic change.
We believe that every person facing deportation is entitled to legal representation regardless of income, race, national origin, or history with the criminal legal system. Yet, there is currently no right to appointed counsel in immigration court. Our goal is to lay the foundational blocks that make federally mandated universal representation a reality.
Driving a national movement
Buoyed by our growing coalition of partners, the SAFE Initiative has charted a powerful course toward national systemic change. Prior to SAFE, locally funded deportation defense programs existed in only two states. Today, including the 21 SAFE Partner sites, there are more than 40 jurisdictions across 18 states funding such programs. These programs also enjoy widespread public support and are a commonsense solution that will ensure that everyone is treated with basic fairness.
Publicly Funded Deportation Defense Programs
This map depicts all 42 publicly funded local and state deportation defense programs nationwide, including the 21 communities within 11 states that are formal partners of the SAFE Initiative. Map updated October 2020.
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Latest News
One Big Thing Cities Can Do on Immigration
The injustices facing immigrants and refugees
Vera Institute of Justice’s SAFE Initiative Launches Community Partnership Program in Support of Universal Representation for Immigrants
In the midst of the pandemic and federal attacks on immigrant communities, program grants will elevate directly impacted voices and support grassroots organizing for publicly funded deportation defense for immigrants.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 24, 2020CONTACT: Linda Zhang, lzhang@mrss.com NEW YORK, NY —Today, the Vera Institute of Justice’s SAFE (Safety and Fairness for Everyone) Initiative launched its Community Partnership program by announcing grants to 13 groups organizing to advance universal legal representation for immigrant communities. The grantees w ...