Orange County Justice Fund
No one should defend against deportation alone
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Programs and results
What we aim to solve
An estimated 310,000 undocumented immigrants live in Orange County (OC) and are at risk of detention and deportation. Every year, OC families continue to face apprehension, detention, and deportation from immigration enforcement authorities. In 2021, the federal government opened the Santa Ana Immigration Court and immediately filed 2,684 new removal proceedings, also known as deportation proceedings, against mostly OC residents (TRAC). As of January 2024, over 78,000 deportation cases are pending at the Santa Ana Immigration Court 28,138 are OC residents, 127 are currently detained in immigration prisons, and 45% do not have legal representation (TRAC). Being free from immigration detention significantly improves chances of obtaining legal representation and successfully defending against deportation to remain safe in community with loved ones. OC Justice Fund aims to keep families together, ensure immigrants and refugees have access to justice, & advocate for systems change.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Immigrant Bond Fund
If a detained community member is granted bond by an ICE officer or immigration judge, and cannot aford to pay the price of their bond in exchange for their freedom, OCJF pays for all or part of an individual’s immigration bond. We will never ask for repayment, instead, at the end of the legal proceedings, if the individual fully complies with all requirements to appear in court, OCJF will receive the bond funds back from the federal government and will use those funds to help free another individual.
Legal Empowerment Program
Legal Empowerment workshops and clinics provide immigrants and refugees with the necessary resources such as free background checks, free FOIA request filings, and legal knowledge in order to take the necessary next steps in their immigration cases. The programming also includes pro se legal clinics, and community know your right workshops to empower immigrant communities to know, use, shape, and transform law and systems that impact their lives.
Healing Program - Cafecito Contigo
OCJF acknowledges that immigrants and refugees face challenges when seeking any health care, but we realize mental health is often the most stigmatized and expensive. In 2022, OCJF responded to these distinct needs and launched Cafecito Contigo, a healing program for female-identifying community members impacted by immigration detention. The program structure is six months long and consisted of two monthly meetings where the participants would grab a coffee, join the meeting, and begin the discussion and exercises the facilitators planned within the framework of Healing Justice.
Advocacy
OCJF was founded to advocate for transformative change in the immigration system to ensure no OC residents was forced to defend against deportation alone. OCJFs report The State of Immigration Enforcement and Legal Resources in Orange County, is serving as a tool further advocate for increased legal resources for residents in immigration court without legal representation. We aim to enlist a part-time Community Organizer to direct a county-wide campaign advocating for deportation defense funding, supporting the statewide Representation for All (Rep4All) campaign, in addition to collaborating with the ongoing Santa Ana Families for Fair Elections (SAFFE) campaign.
Fellowship
In 2021, with support from the Sun Family Foundation, OCJF launched a fellowship program for community members directly impacted by immigration detention, who have been released from immigration detention on bond and are reintegrating back into community, while continuing to defend against deportation.
OCJF fellows who align with fellowship opportunities are empowered to build professional skills, provided stipends, and gain stability post release from immigration detention. Once the program is completed, we aim for the fellows to leave the program with transferable skills, a pathway to economic stability, and connections to community resources to help increase their chances of successfully defending against deportation.
Where we work
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total dollar amount of loans issued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Immigrant Bond Fund
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2022: https://www.ocjusticefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OCJF-2022-Bond-Fund-Report.pdf 2023:https://www.ocjusticefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-OCJF-Final-Bond-Fund-Report.pdf
Our Sustainable Development Goals
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Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
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Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
In the unfolding years of 2024 onward, OCJF eagerly anticipates building on the foundation of its impactful initiatives while expanding its reach and influence in the realm of immigrant rights. A pivotal focus will be on the continued evolution, enhancement, and expansion of key programs, advocacy efforts, and support systems that form the core of OCJF's mission.
Central to OCJFs mission is the prolonged continuation of the immigrant bond fund program. OCJFs primary goal is to continue to provide bond assistance to detained OC immigrants and refugees. OCJF prioritizes bond assistance applications from OC residents, and the length of detention of the person applying, prompting an urgency to expand efforts to increase access to immigration bond bond support. OCJFs immigrant bond fund is the only one in Orange County and saw a 42% increase in applications in 2023. Alarmingly, OCJF was also asked for 102% more in fund contributions.
In 2024, we especially look forward to strengthening legal empowerment program offerings. OCJF's goal is to include more immigration legal aid to help families and individuals in immigration court that do not have an attorney, by taking the necessary steps to become a Department of Justice (DOJ) recognized organization. Two staff members are currently training to become DOJ-accredited representatives by mid-2024. OCJFs DOJ accredited representatives will be authorized to provide competent immigration legal aid to primarily low-income families, such as filing applications with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and more.
In 2024 we aim to continue the momentum created by OCJFs report The State of Immigration Enforcement and Legal Resources in Orange County, to further advocate for increased legal resources for residents in immigration court without legal representation. OCJF's goal is to enlist a part-time Community Organizer to direct a county-wide campaign advocating for deportation defense funding, supporting the statewide Representation for All (Rep4All) campaign, in addition to collaborating with the ongoing Santa Ana Families for Fair Elections (SAFFE) campaign.
Lastly, OCJF's goal is to sustain the post-release support programs for OCJFs bond recipients, their loved ones, and the larger OC community impacted by immigration enforcement. We aim to continue our Cafecito Contigo healing program for systems impacted women and welcome a new cohort in May 2024 while introducing community workshops and education around healing. We anticipate another year of building community and witnessing the personal growth of the cohort members. Additionally, we aim to welcome a former recipient of OCJFs bond fund to a fellowship aiding in professional development skills in social media and film.
OCJF remains committed to supporting, getting people out of needless and dangerous prison conditions, and advocating for increase access to justice for immigrants & refugees in OC.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
OCJF must invest in organizational capacity growth, including staff expansion, program enhancement, & leadership development. OCJF is seeking unrestricted general operating support, capacity building, and partnership grants to assist in this mission.
OCJF continues to fundraise all year round to ensure OC residents in immigration detention have access to bond fund support, but the prioritization of OC residents leaves other detained individuals in the region with limit options of securing funds for their freedom. To address the increase in bond fund applications and prices of immigration bonds, OCJF aims to build a network of bond funds in Southern California, empowering organizations like ORALE, a Long Beach-based organization whose liberation fund is fiscally sponsored by OCJF, to establish their own immigrant bond funds. To do so, OCJF needs a part-time bond fund coordinator to enhance efficiency. Currently, managed by the program coordinator, given their evolving role in legal empowerment (LE) services & Department of Justice (DOJ) accreditation. This strategic addition will streamline bond fund access for immigrant communities.
To better meet the legal needs of oc residents in immigration court without legal representation, OCJF is developing a new service area -immigration legal services. To achieve this, OCJF is becoming an entity recognized by the DOJ. In the process of recognition, OCJF must be a U.S.-based nonprofit serving low-income clients with immigration legal needs & have an accredited DOJ representative on staff. OCJF's executive director & program coordinator are undergoing immigration law training for accreditation. We aim to have two partially accredited representatives by mid-2024, enabling staff to aid filing with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) applications, covering various immigration statuses. A fully accredited DOJ immigration legal services program will expand services for those in immigration detention, seeking bond & removal defense. OCJF needs sustained investment in the DOJ accreditation process to completion & support for program expansion.
To make lasting impact, OCJF needs a Community Organizer position. OCJFs report, The State of Immigration Enforcement & Legal Resources in Orange County emphasized the urgency for greater legal resources available to residents in immigration court. Leveraging OCJFs program models, & strong connections to local stakeholders, OCJF is positioned to lead OC Immigrant Defense campaign. The campaign goal is to advocate for the establishment of a legal defense fund for OC residents in immigration court. The campaign's long-term goal is to secure government funding for nonprofit legal service providers, such as OCJF. OCJFs community organizer would also provide support to aid in the success of ongoing evolving campaigns ensuring OCJF fully utilizes its platform & resources for the benefit of OC immigrants & refugees.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
In 2023 OCJF welcomed new executive board members who are dedicated to supporting the organization, and programs into the future. Additionally OCJF has a strong network of local CBO's who aid in the success of OCJF programs and advocacy efforts, including; OC Rapid Response Network, Harbor Institute of Immigrant and Economic Justice, VietRISE, UCI immigrant Rights Clinic, Vera Institute of Justice, Immigrant Defenders, Public Law Center, and many others. OCJF also has strong relationships with elected officials throughout the county.
In 2022 OCJF staff expanded to include Program Coordinator, Tanya Leon, who holds a Masters in International Studies from Chapman University, and currently enrolled in Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representation formal training to enhance legal empowerment program offerings, in addition to, Development Coordinator, Teresa Morris, who holds a BA in legal studies from UC Santa Cruz, and currently on track to CFRE credentials to improve OCJFs fundraising efforts. The same year, with support from the Women's Catalytic Fund, OCJF launched Cafecito Contigo, a healing group for systems impacted women to build community, empower each other, and find support, led by Karina Trejo (they/them) who provided foundational support for program growth and transfer of leadership to a directly impact community member, Azul Penaloza.
In 2023, OCJF released a comprehensive research report, The State of Immigration Enforcement and Legal Resources. The report has served as a guide for OCJF's programs and a tool for future advocacy, especially with the transition of executive leadership to Faby Jacome. OCJF's current Executive Director, holds multiple degrees from Chapman University, ABA certified paralegal and a deep history of local deportation defense advocacy, she is also founding member of OCJF, and currently in formal training to become a DOJ accredited representative to enhance program offering.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2023, OCJF made substantial strides in expanding its impact on the immigrant and refugee community in Orange County, particularly those navigating the complexities of the immigration system. In May, OCJF released a comprehensive research report titled The State of Immigration Enforcement and Legal Resources in Orange County. This report serves as a pivotal advocacy tool, shedding light on the pressing need for improved accessibility to legal support for residents facing deportation in immigration court.
Building on these insights, OCJF officially launched legal empowerment programming in July that met some of the legal needs of low-income Irvine residents entangled in the immigration legal system. Simultaneously, OCJF embarked on the accreditation and recognition process with the Department of Justice (DOJ). OCJF, becoming a DOJ recognized organization, empowers staff to provide limited scope direct legal representation before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In October, OCJF celebrated the successful completion of the second annual Cafecito Contigo cohort, a transformative program that empowered five systems-impacted women to heal from the traumas associated with immigration enforcement.
A noteworthy development occurred in November with the launch of OCJF's inaugural legal empowerment clinic. This clinic played a crucial role in assisting Irvine residents with immigration case assessments, providing them with a wholesome understanding of their immigration status and potential relief options. By extending legal guidance to community members, OCJF strengthened its commitment to ensuring that individuals were equipped with the knowledge necessary to navigate the intricacies of the immigration system.
Throughout the year, OCJF distributed $73,350 in immigration bond fund assistance to 16 community members who otherwise would not be able to pay the price of an immigration bond in exchange for their freedom. Additionally, the organization successfully fundraised $63,000 in 2023, a testament to the community's recognition and support of the org organizations mission. These accomplishments were only possible with the successful transition of Executive Director leadership and the onboarding of new executive Board Members.
We continue to work with local city councils to encourage them to follow the lead of the City of Santa Ana, and other cities that are part of the Vera Institute's SAFE Cities Network, a national network of cities that have pledged support for deportation defense funds. Through OCJF's advocacy efforts, we are building local capacity and willpower to create an immigrant-friendly Orange County. OCJF staff actively participates in panels, speaker events, strategic meetings, and local immigration advocacy collaboratives, with a particular emphasis on the need for universal representation in immigration court and ending immigration detention.
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Orange County Justice Fund
Board of directorsas of 05/14/2024
Jacqueline Dan
OC Public Defender
Term: 2023 - 2024
Carlos Perea
Harbor Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice
Term: 2023 - 2024
Oscar Rodriguez
City of Huntington Beach
Annie Lai
UC Irvine School of Law
Erik Garcia
ORALE
Felicity Figueroa
OC Rapid Response Network
Blanca Ramirez
UC Los Angeles Luskin School of Public Affairs
Jorge Rodriguez
Chapman University
Camilo Romero
Santa Ana College Professor of Law
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