Legal Representation and Support

Kathy Henriquez P 02/10/2026 02:37 PM

Background and context (including, if applicable, where this idea came from):

This proposal was started by the immigration working group hosted by Neighbors United for a Better East Boston. There was about 20 participants. The group, after reading the ideas proposed by residents at previous assembly, plus the ideas proposed by resident on the city's Participatory Budgeting process. The working group looked at existing programs and resources offered by the city and agreed that their free legal clinics are a great resource but it's not meeting the demand and the actual need for legal representation by offering just legal consultation.

Proposal (including what specifically the money would be spent on):

Access to free legal consultation and representation.

Pay for more lawyers to offer the free consultation and take immigration cases for free and reduced costs
- Need more development: what type of cases should take or prioritize now?
Consultations need to be longer not just 15 min. Minimum of 45min-1hour
Extend the schedule for consultations. The hours offered need to expand to hours that work for working class people. Include evening times, weekends, etc.

Proposal cost:
type your answer here

City Department that would implement it (if known):
type your answer here

People’s Budget values (for reference):

Self-determination: We know what our communities need and we have the right to decide for ourselves.
Transparency: We move with honesty and openness so everyone can see how decisions are made.
Care: We keep each other safe through care / by meeting needs, not punishment.
Solidarity: We show up for each other. None of us are free unless all of us are free!
Community Wisdom: The people most affected by decisions should lead.
Well-being: We deserve more than survival. Everyone should have what they need to live abundant, joyful lives.

Reminder: Residents will be asked to consider how proposals align with these values when you vote at the assembly on March 14 and to vote for proposals that align with the values.

How does this proposal align with the People’s Budget values?
type your answer here

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Eliza CED

02/27/2026 10:44 AM

Is this proposal to add more money to the legal consultations program under MOIA and make the consult times longer? Or to add more money into the grants to community organizations where community organizations pay for attorneys for their members? Or to put the PB project legal defense fund into the operating budget? In other words, is the proposal to cover more and longer legal consultations or to actually pay the legal fees for individuals to be represented by attorneys?
In FY26 budget there was $900,000 available for grants to community organizations that offered legal representation and consultations, training and workshops, assistance filling out forms, etc.

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