My name is Eddie Meyer, and I am the senior policy advocate at the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
We urge the county to adopt a people-centered budget that protects residents’ basic needs and invests in the long-term health and stability of our communities.
One of our top priorities is robust funding for the Immigrant Legal Defense Program (ILDP). Demand for immigration legal services continues to rise as more residents face detention and deportation. The ILDP ensures immigrants in detention have access to legal representation. No one should navigate one of the most complex legal systems in our country alone.
We support the chief administrative officer’s proposal to fully fund the ILDP in the upcoming county budget to meet current and anticipated operational needs while maintaining the program as a universal, merits-blind service. The ILDP has played a crucial role in protecting due process and keeping families together. We thank the county for championing this effort.
We also urge you to continue to invest in other safety-net programs that keep families stable and communities strong.
Thank you.