Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative
Forecasted
Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative supports legal providers offering free counsel to low-income New Jersey residents facing removal, promoting family unity, stability, and due process.
Funder: New Jersey Department of Human Services
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Proposal deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $12 million total; awards up to $5 million or $1 million; initial one-year term
Summary: Supports free legal representation for low-income New Jersey residents facing detention, deportation, or removal, and statewide provider coordination.
Key Information: Options A and B require immigration attorneys on staff and payroll; contractual arrangements cannot replace required attorney capacity.
Description
The Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI) is a statewide, publicly funded program administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services through its Office of New Americans (ONA). It supports a consortium providing free, expert legal counsel to income-eligible, unrepresented New Jersey residents facing detention, deportation, or removal. Its goals include family unification, stability, and access to due process, with priority given to detained individuals.
The initiative funds experienced removal-defense providers, organizations expanding removal-defense capacity, and one statewide coordinating entity. Coordination includes intake and referrals, training, technical assistance, data collection, reporting, and oversight. Providers must follow a universal representation model rather than selecting clients by perceived case merits. Legal services may include advice, limited representation, full representation through initial adjudication, and appeals, as necessary and appropriate.
