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California Governor Gavin Newsom has allocated $35 million in state funding to support undocumented immigrants as the Trump administration intensifies its deportation efforts. The funds, previously set aside in the state budget, will be distributed to philanthropic partners to provide food assistance and other essential resources to immigrant families.
This financial support comes in addition to existing state allocations for legal resources for those facing deportation. The governor’s office announced the funding after Newsom spoke with immigrant families and community leaders about the impacts of federal immigration enforcement actions.
“While the federal government targets hardworking families, California stands with them – uniting partners and funding local communities to help support their neighbors,” Newsom said in a press release. “The urgent need grows as the Trump Administration accelerates mass detention, tramples due process, and funds authoritarian enforcement with over $170 billion. As the Trump Administration chooses cruelty and chaos, California chooses community.”
A spokesperson for Newsom told CalMatters that the governor has witnessed firsthand the fear permeating immigrant communities. “People are afraid to leave their homes, afraid to go to school or work, and unable to afford groceries,” the spokesperson said.
The funding decision comes despite significant budget constraints in California. The governor’s office anticipates a $2.9 billion deficit in the coming budget year, and the state has already limited healthcare for undocumented immigrants to address a larger deficit last year.
Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, emphasized the state’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. “When federal actions create fear and instability, our responsibility is to show up for families. This investment strengthens local partners who are helping people access legal services and meet basic needs during an incredibly difficult moment.”
The move has received strong support from Democratic lawmakers. State Senator Lena Gonzalez, chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, framed the funding as a stand of solidarity with immigrant families. “The federal government is waging a war on our communities – and we won’t stand for it,” Gonzalez said. “We are putting money behind an effort to stop the fear, stop the separation of our families and stop violating our basic rights.”
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas also backed the governor’s decision, stating, “California will never be silent in the face of Trump’s cruel and unlawful immigration raids. We will meet fear and intimidation with courage and action.”
However, the funding has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers. Assemblymember Carl DeMaio called the allocation “absurd,” comparing it to citizens seeking free legal representation against the IRS. “If you were audited by the IRS and found to owe money and back taxes, as a citizen, you couldn’t say, ‘Well, I want a free lawyer to fight the federal government,'” DeMaio told CalMatters.
The state funding comes as President Donald Trump fulfills his campaign promise of a major immigration crackdown through mass deportations. In June, Trump signed a budget bill that included $170 billion for immigration enforcement, detention, and deportation. This investment aims to remove up to one million immigrants from the United States per year over the next four years.
It’s worth noting that California’s immigration legal services have restrictions. State funds cannot be used to help individuals with serious or violent felony convictions fight deportation. Additionally, California laws do not block state corrections staff from transferring undocumented immigrants convicted of serious or violent felonies to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
The $35 million allocation represents California’s continued resistance to federal immigration policies under the Trump administration, highlighting the ongoing tension between state and federal approaches to immigration enforcement. As deportation operations intensify across the country, California’s funding decision underscores the state’s commitment to protecting immigrant communities despite significant budget challenges.
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9 Comments
The $35 million allocation seems like a meaningful investment, though the broader political tensions around immigration enforcement remain concerning. I hope this funding can make a tangible difference for those facing deportation fears.
This is a sensitive issue that highlights the complex challenges around immigration and deportation. While I respect the state’s efforts to support undocumented residents, I wonder how this funding will be utilized most effectively to provide tangible assistance.
It’s good to see California taking steps to help vulnerable immigrant families during this difficult time. Providing food and other essential resources is critical. However, the long-term solution requires bipartisan federal reform of the immigration system.
I agree, comprehensive immigration reform is needed at the national level. State-level efforts can only do so much to address these complex issues.
While I understand the state’s desire to support undocumented immigrants, I wonder about the practical implications and potential unintended consequences of this funding. Careful oversight and accountability will be important.
That’s a fair point. Any government funding program requires robust monitoring to ensure it is used effectively and equitably.
This is a complex issue without easy solutions. I appreciate California’s efforts to provide a safety net, but lasting change will require federal action to reform the immigration system and address the root causes of displacement.
It’s encouraging to see state leaders taking proactive steps to assist vulnerable immigrant communities. However, I hope this funding is deployed strategically to maximize its impact and reach those most in need.
Providing essential resources to undocumented immigrants is a compassionate response, but long-term reform is needed to address the systemic challenges. I’m curious to see how this funding is implemented and what its effects will be.