San Francisco to provide legal defense for immigrants facing deportation

FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, file photo, suspected illegal immigrants are transferred out of the holding area after being processed at the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection headquarters in Tucson, Ariz. The National Immigration Law Center and the ACLU argued in court there are inhumane conditions inside Arizona detention facilities. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Undocumented immigrants who can't afford an attorney are forced to face the judge alone. But San Francisco's public defender is working to change that.

Most Americans would never think of representing themselves if they were charged with a crime. But it happens all the time to immigrants swept up in ICE raids.

Those who can't afford an attorney face the judge alone and often end up incarcerated.

But in California, efforts have been made to change that. The most recent action comes from the San Francisco public defender's office. They're taking on new attorneys to help with deportation cases.

The first one starts this week.

Jeff Adachi is head of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. He spoke about the move with Take Two.

Press the blue play button above to hear the full interview.