Alameda County Allocates Over $2M for Immigrant and Refugee Support
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved over $2 million to fund services for illegal immigrants and refugees amidst heightened federal scrutiny.
In a significant move to support its immigrant and refugee communities, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in Oakland has voted to allocate approximately $2.2 million for services designed to protect and assist these groups. This decision, made during the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, comes in direct response to President Donald Trump’s policies aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.
The funding, proposed by the board’s ad hoc Alameda County Together for All Committee, will be used to enhance legal services and community support. Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, chairwoman of the committee, emphasized the board’s commitment to ensuring the effectiveness of these services, stating, “I’m committed, and I believe Supervisor [Elisa] Marquez is also committed, to making sure the board, the public, has more information and that this work is truly effective in reaching every single person in this community that is potentially at risk.”
Among the allocations, $50,000 will go to the Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach for legal services and advocacy for marginalized immigrant communities. Additionally, Centro Legal de La Raza will receive up to $700,000 to establish a Rapid Response Hotline, conduct Know Your Rights training sessions, and coordinate community volunteer networks. Trabajadores Unidos Workers United is set to receive up to $500,000 for resources and preparation for immigrant and refugee communities, focusing on training, mutual aid, and neighborhood resources. The California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice will also receive up to $1 million for legal services aimed at fighting for the liberation of immigrants in detention.
Supervisor David Haubert described the funding as a community effort, facilitated by a public/private partnership, which alleviates the financial burden on the county alone. Supervisor Fortunato Bas highlighted the diverse nature of Alameda County, noting that one-third of its residents are immigrants and half of the children live in households with at least one immigrant parent. She stressed the need for protection and support in light of federal policies that have instilled fear among residents.
This latest allocation follows a February decision by the board to allocate $1.3 million to the Alameda County Public Defender Office’s Immigration Unit, which provides deportation defense and legal services to illegal immigrants facing deportation.