The program will start as a $5 million one-year pilot project, and eventually grow to be a permanent program as part of the San Diego County Office of the Public Defender and work in partnership with regional immigrant defense agencies and nonprofit organizations.
County staff will report back to the board in 90 days with a plan to permanently fund and operate the program.
Lawson-Remer said the program will help address the current backlog in immigration courts.
Lawson-Remer said this issue was personal to her, because three of her grandparents fled Europe because they feared for their lives. Establishing a legal defense program "will strengthen our values as Americans," she said.