Title
Approving the execution of the Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County for Immigrant and Refugee Services.
Body
WHEREAS, Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul have been working together closely in partnership with the VERA Institute of Justice to provide immigration legal representation to detained, indigent, and unrepresented Ramsey County and St. Paul residents; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul find that providing immigrant legal services will stabilize families and community, encourage civil engagement and commitment, and improve the economic potential of immigrants; and
WHEREAS, The City of Saint Paul is the largest municipality within Ramsey County, and is the home to an important proportion of immigrants and refugees vulnerable to immigration proceedings; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul are committed to engaging the community and building trust across public services to ensure that long- term community prosperity is shared by all, and find that ensuring public safety requires that people including their family members and friends feel welcome and safe; and
WHEREAS, On February 26, 2019, Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul entered into a Joint Powers Agreement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 471. 59 to establish and maintain a cooperative immigrant and refugee legal defense program, which expired on December 31, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul wish to enter into a new Joint Powers Agreement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 471. 59 to maintain a cooperative immigrant and refugee legal defense program for the ongoing immigration legal representation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has allocated the funding in the 2022 budget for this legal defense program; and,
WHEREAS, This Joint Powers Agreement will allow the City of Saint Paul to further collaborate with Ramsey County to improve the safety and stability of Saint Paul residents; and
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Saint Paul City Council approves execution of the Joint Powers Agreement for Immigrant and Refugee Services attached to this resolution.