California Funds Legal Defense for Immigrants Amidst Federal Enforcement

As the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement, several California city and county governments are setting aside public money to help immigrants and the rapid response networks that support them gain access to legal defenses.

Increased Funding in San Francisco and Alameda County

San Francisco and Alameda County are among the latest to allocate additional funds for immigrant defense. In October 2025, following threats from President Trump to increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $3.5 million boost to its defense fund. Alameda County doubled its initial fund to $3.5 million in March 2025.

Expansion Across California Cities and Counties

Richmond, Los Angeles, and Santa Clara County have too established immigration defense funds. Bay Area cities have collaborated to create the Stand Together Bay Area Fund, a legal resource entirely funded by philanthropic contributions.

Local Interests and the Importance of Legal Representation

Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg emphasized that protecting immigrants is in the county’s best interest, stating that 40% of the county’s population is comprised of immigrants. “We have a direct connection and concern to the people who perform, live, raise families, pay taxes, participate in our community and keep our economy and social fabric strong,” Ellenberg said. “our local funds go to protecting local interests.”

Caitlin Patler, an associate professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, highlighted the necessity of these funds given the large immigrant population in the United States and the nature of immigration courts. “I don’t think anyone should represent themselves in any court when the government comes with a lawyer every time,” she said.

The Disparity in Legal Representation

Unlike criminal cases, deportation proceedings are conducted in civil courts, meaning individuals defending themselves against the federal government do not have the right to a court-appointed attorney. However, these cases carry significant consequences. As immigration judges have noted, these cases can be akin to “trying life sentences in traffic court.”

History of Local Government Investment

Local government investment in immigrant defense funds is not a new phenomenon and predates the Trump era. New York City implemented a pilot legal defense fund for immigrants in 2013, following increased enforcement of immigration laws under the Obama administration. San Francisco launched a similar program the following year.

A 2014 study by the Northern California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice found that immigrants with legal representation from Bay Area nonprofit organizations won 83% of their deportation hearings, a significantly higher rate than those without legal assistance. However, two-thirds of detained immigrants lacked access to legal support.

The “One California” Program

California established the Immigrant Assistance Program in 2015, shortly after the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Known as “One California,” the $45 million fund supports nonprofit organizations providing services to immigrants, including legal assistance. The program restricts the use of funds for individuals convicted of serious crimes.

The fund has been included in the annual budget, though debate has arisen regarding whether funds can be used by immigrants with felony convictions. In 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget bill that some advocates criticized for potentially expanding the definition of serious crimes that disqualify individuals from receiving state legal aid.

Acceleration of Funding Post-2016

Although immigrant advocacy funding began over a decade ago, the trend accelerated in late 2016 following Donald Trump’s election, during which he campaigned on strengthening border enforcement and discouraging immigration nationwide.

Shortly after Trump’s inauguration in 2017, Los Angeles created a $10 million public-private fund, later expanded in 2022 to develop into RepresentLA, a continuing investment by the city, county, and philanthropic organizations.

Further Funding After Trump’s Re-election

In September 2025, Santa Clara County allocated $5 million to support response activities related to Trump’s crackdown on immigrants, increasing that allocation to $13 million since. Ellenberg noted that Santa Clara’s fund is broader than most, supporting various immigration resource organizations, including the Rapid Response Network, as well as legal advocacy, outreach, education, and prevention efforts.

The United Bay Area Fund

In September 2025, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, along with the mayors of Oakland and San Jose, announced the United Bay Area Fund, aiming to raise $10 million to support immigrant families affected by detentions and deportations. Cities have not yet allocated public funds to this fund, which is administered by the San Francisco Foundation.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee stated that the fund will pool resources from individuals, corporations, the faith community, and philanthropic partners to support nonprofit groups working with immigrant communities.

Three Alameda County supervisors are contributing public funds to the initiative from their discretionary budgets. Supervisor Nikki Fortnato Bas announced a $50,000 donation, stating, “These dollars are just one part of a much larger fight… a fight for dignity, for rights and for the future of our democracy.”