What is Denver's Immigrant Legal Services Fund?
The fund awards grants to nonprofit organizations to provide representation for qualified individuals threatened with or in removal proceedings.
Why do we need a Legal Services Fund?
Providing representation to immigrants in removal proceedings is about bringing fairness to complex immigration proceedings.
Legal defense should not be for only those who can afford it.
Immigrants are over 10 times more likely to be able to stay in the country when they have legal representation.
Deportation proceedings are the only legal proceedings in the United States where people are detained without access to legal representation.
What's at stake in Denver?
The federal government’s latest immigration rules have caused disruption in our community.Mass deportations drain our community's resources. We lose important tax revenue, local businesses face disruptions, schools turn into crisis centers, and children separated from their parents may end up in foster care.
At the local level, we need to work together to find solutions that are efficient, effective, and humane to reduce disruptions.
Fair representation and due process will help reduce fear and take care of our community. Legal representation ensures fairness and due process for individuals. This is different from the question of whether someone should be deported.
- Approximately 546,000 immigrants live in Colorado, making up 10% of the total population. These members of our community generate over $49.1 billion of our state's $491 billion economic output. (Colorado Fiscal Institute)
- Colorado’s state and local economies lost over $15.8 million in economic activity, and state and local governments lost more than $894,000 in taxes from immigrants detained during their case. (Colorado Fiscal Institute)
- 90,000 children in Colorado live with at least one undocumented person and at least one documented person. Taking parents and close family members away can make children and families more likely to have mental health issues, do worse in school, and have financial problems. (Colorado Fiscal Institute)
Who qualifies to receive legal defense services?
- Individuals subject to actual or potential immigration removal proceedings and/or who are subject to a final order of removal
- Denver residents (To be considered a resident an individual has to be able to verify their presence in the City and County of Denver for at least 60 days)
- Individuals who have a household income of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
Who will select the nonprofits that will do this work?
The Denver Foundation and an advisory committee, will chose the nonprofit organizations who will provide direct services to individuals.
Who is funding this initiative?
Anyone can donate to this fund, which consists of both private and public dollars. The fund has received contributions from the City & County of Denver, the Vera Institute of Justice SAFE Cities Network, The Denver Foundation, the Rose Community Foundation, and numerous private donors.
What is the timeline for the fund?
To apply, please visit the Denver Foundation’s website, or follow this link: Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund (DILSF) - Denver Foundation.
- Opening Date: August 22, 2025
- Closing Date: October 3, 2025
- Typical Grant Range: $25,000 to $200,000
- Funding Area: Other
- Region: Metro Denver
Why should the city government use taxpayer money for this purpose?
Our community is safest when all our neighbors trust their officials and institutions, and know everyone will be treated with dignity and fairness.
Denver’s immigrants contribute greatly to the economic and cultural makeup of Denver’s community. Providing representation to immigrants in removal proceedings is not about who deserves to stay or be deported. The fairest and most efficient way to bring order to these complex proceedings is to ensure legal representation for those whose future may well depend on it.
Where can I find more information?
Please visit The Denver Foundation website at https://www.denverfoundation.org/Nonprofits/Grants-What-We-Fund/Other-Grant-Programs/Immigrant-Legal-Services-Fund for additional information. Julie Voyles, Senior Special Funds Officer at The Denver Foundation, is also available to answer questions and may be reached at jvoyles@denverfoundation.org.
Please direct all media inquiries to Laura Bond, Director of Communications at The Denver Foundation, lbond@denverfoundation.org.
How can I contribute?
Donations of any amount are welcome. Please either visit The Denver Foundation web portal: (https://denverfoundation.org/donor-services/make-a-gift/ ) or send a check made out to Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund and mail to the following address:
The Denver Foundation
1009 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203