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San Francisco To Spend $100K On Attorneys For Immigrant Residents Facing Deportation

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- San Francisco officials are set to announce $100,000 in funding to help city residents facing deportation for living in the country illegally obtain an attorney.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the money will go to the nonprofit Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, which will use it to provide free legal representation. The funding is expected to be announced on Wednesday.

Supervisor David Chiu says people have to have at least a fighting chance to stay in the country for the Pledge of Allegiance's commitment to justice for all to mean anything.

Research suggests at least for children, having an attorney significantly increases their chances of avoiding deportation.

New York City has a similar program, and California recently announced a proposal to provide $3 million to immigration attorneys.

© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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