Committee backs codifying immigration legal fellowship to expand counsel in underserved regions

Senator Caballero presented SB 1194 to codify the Immigration Legal Fellowship, a pilot project begun in 2019 that places attorneys in underserved parts of California to expand removal-defense capacity. The author said the fellowship has built a pipeline of immigration attorneys and increased access to counsel in rural and underserved counties.

Jackie Gonzales of Immigrant Defense Advocates described fellows' impact and the fellowship's stay-in-community results: "Access to due process and quality legal defense should not depend on income or zip code," she said, urging continued state investment. Supporters included the California Immigrant Policy Center and Central American Resource Center.

During roll call the committee recorded Becker, Laird and Weber Pearson voting aye and Senator Nilo voting no; the motion carried 3-1 and the bill passed to Appropriations.