Jim Desmond Voted Multiple Times Against Providing Legal Assistance To Migrants Facing Deportation In San Diego County

2021: Desmond Voted Against A San Diego County Pilot Program To Fund Legal Representation For Migrants Facing Deportation. “San Diego on Tuesday became the first county along the U.S.-Mexico border to approve a pilot program that will fund legal representation for migrants facing deportation. The California county's board of supervisors approved the pilot program in a 3-2 vote on Tuesday after listening to nearly two hours of public comments on the proposal. […] Funding the program was a point of concern that one of the supervisors who voted against its approval raised during Tuesday's meeting. Supervisor Jim Desmond said he believes providing legal assistance to migrants should be a ‘federal issue’ rather than a county concern. ‘To me, this is a federal issue, and unfortunately not the financial responsibility of a local county government,’ Desmond said.” [Newsweek, 5/5/21]

Desmond Said Providing Legal Assistance To Migrants Should Be A “Federal Issue.” “Funding the program was a point of concern that one of the supervisors who voted against its approval raised during Tuesday's meeting. Supervisor Jim Desmond said he believes providing legal assistance to migrants should be a ‘federal issue’ rather than a county concern. ‘To me, this is a federal issue, and unfortunately not the financial responsibility of a local county government,’ Desmond said.” [Newsweek, 5/5/21]

Desmond: “This Program Grants Special Treatment To Individuals Who Have Chosen To Bypass Our Immigration Laws, Including Some Of The Most Egregious Offenders.” “‘This program grants special treatment to individuals who have chosen to bypass our immigration laws, including some of the most egregious offenders,’ Desmond said in a statement. He added that the county does not offer legal representation to U.S. citizens in other kinds of complex civil cases, such as matters in U.S. Tax Court. […] ‘We have enough of our own problems to deal with,’ Desmond said in an interview.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/8/23]

  • About 5% Of The Participants In The Deportation Defense Program Had Any Convictions. “A proposal by San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson to end taxpayer-funded deportation defense for non-citizens with certain types of criminal convictions failed to gain any support at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Neither Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer nor Chairwoman Nora Vargas would second his motion to put the proposal forward for a vote, which Anderson requested as a courtesy. Supervisor Jim Desmond was absent from Tuesday’s meeting due to a family commitment. […] Earlier, Lawson-Remer said Anderson and Desmond were resorting to dirty tactics and ignoring the fact that just 34 people with convictions — around 5% of the total — have been defended under the IRLDP.” [Times of San Diego, 10/10/23]

2023: Desmond Criticized The San Diego County Program That Provided Attorneys To Nearly 800 Immigrants Facing Deportation

2023: Desmond Criticized The San Diego County Program That Provided Attorneys To Nearly 800 Immigrants Facing Deportation. “San Diego County provided attorneys to nearly 800 immigrants facing deportation in the first 15 months of a new program, leading to an increase in legal representation for immigrants in the region and a growing number of courtroom wins, according to a report. […] Desmond and Anderson said the county should not spend money on immigration cases — which they characterized as a federal issue outside of the county’s responsibility. They said the funds should be used on pressing local issues, such as homelessness and mental health.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/8/23]

2023: Desmond Was Absent For A Vote On Allocating $3 Million To Support Asylum Seeking Migrants In San Diego County

2023: Desmond Was Absent For A Vote On Allocating $3 Million In ARPA Funds To Support Asylum Seeking Migrants In San Diego County. “1. Revise the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Framework to use $3.0 million of amounts anticipated to be allocated to the Evergreen element of the ARPA Framework to fund the grant agreement in recommendation 6. […] 6. Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to enter into a grant agreement or agreements with nongovernmental organization(s) for the provision of supportive services to asylum seeking migrants released in San Diego County by the federal government, in an aggregate amount of up to $3.0 million, and to make minor amendments to the agreement(s) that do not change the purpose or amount of the grant. […] ACTION: ON MOTION of Supervisor Vargas, seconded by Supervisor Anderson, the Board of Supervisors took action as recommended. AYES: Vargas, Anderson, Lawson-Remer ABSENT: Desmond; (District 4 Seat Vacant).” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 10/10/23]

2025: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against Accepting A $500,000 Donation For The Immigrant Rights Legal Defense Program

2025: Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against Accepting A $500,000 Donation For The Immigrant Rights Legal Defense Program. “1. In accordance with Administrative Code Section 66 and Board Policy A-112, accept a donation of $500,000 from Conrad Prebys Foundation for the Immigrant Rights Legal Defense Program (ILDP) and refer to Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget deliberations the establishment of appropriations of $500,000 in the Public Defender for ILDP based on funds received in the current fiscal year from the Conrad Prebys Foundation. 2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter of appreciation on behalf of the County of San Diego to the Conrad Prebys Foundation. […] ACTION: ON MOTION of Supervisor Montgomery Steppe, seconded by Supervisor Aguirre, the Board of Supervisors took action as recommended, on Consent. AYES: Aguirre, Anderson, Lawson-Remer, Montgomery Steppe NOES: Desmond.” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 9/30/25]

2025: Desmond Was Absent For A Vote On Directing County Staff To Explore Updates To The Immigrant Legal Defense Program (ILDP) To Meet Emerging Community Needs. “On May 4, 2021 (5), the Board took bold action to uphold due process and defend constitutional rights, approving the creation of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program (ILDP). […] 1. Direct the CAO to explore targeted updates to the ILDP program to enhance impact and meet emerging community needs and ensure sufficient legal capacity. Return to the Board within 45 days with options to codify into a Board Policy. […] 2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to investigate potential State funding opportunities, as well as the possibilities of philanthropic and charitable funding, to fully meet the needs to protect the due process rights of San Diego County immigrants and return to the Board of Supervisors within 120 days with a report of findings. […] AYES: Lawson-Remer, Montgomery Steppe NOES: Anderson ABSENT: Desmond, (District I Seat Vacant).” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 4/8/25]

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