Dolores Street Community Services Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program

Dolores Street Community Services is a community-based non-profit organization that houses multiple programs. It hosts the Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program, which represents low-income San Francisco residents in removal proceedings. It also hosts the African Advocacy Network who assist low-income Bay Area residents with affirmative immigration applications.

Although our Deportation Defense and Legal Advocacy Program was founded to provide immediate representation responding to immigration raids, the program also includes:

• Free immigration consultations and regular clinics to provide screenings, orientations, and assistance with urgent legal filings;

• Appropriate referrals to our partner agencies, including the other organizations in the San Francisco Immigrant Legal and Education Network (SFILEN);

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Screening and Processing.  In 2012, President Obama announced this protection from deportation for certain immigrant youth who came to the United States when they were children.  Our program immediately began preparing applications, and we have assisted hundreds of applicants since that time.  Under the new administration, we continue to provide DACA-eligible individuals with advice and assistance, including the latest expert advice regarding the risks and benefits of the program.