California allocates $35 million to support undocumented immigrants amid federal deportation efforts
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state is releasing $35 million to support undocumented immigrants amid ongoing federal deportation efforts. The funds, part of the state budget, will aid philanthropic groups providing food assistance and other resources to immigrant families, according to a news release.
These funds are in addition to money already allocated for legal services for those facing deportation. Newsom stated that California is standing with immigrant communities as the federal government escalates mass detention, due process violations, and enforcement spending exceeding $170 billion, according to his office.
A spokesperson for Newsom said he has been engaging with immigrant families and community leaders about the federal immigration crackdown. The spokesperson told CalMatters that many are afraid to leave their homes, attend school or work, and are unable to afford groceries. California has allocated the funds despite facing a projected $2.9 billion budget deficit for the upcoming year and recent cuts to healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, emphasized that the investment aims to bolster local organizations helping immigrants access legal assistance and meet basic needs during this challenging time. Democrat state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, called the funding a sign of solidarity with immigrant families.
Gonzalez criticized federal policies, stating, “The federal government is waging a war on our communities – and we won’t stand for it.” Meanwhile, Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio dismissed the funds as “absurd,” comparing them to legal aid for individuals with back taxes, and questioned the appropriateness of taxpayer money supporting undocumented immigrants.
President Donald Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, signing a budget bill in June that allocates $170 billion for border detention and deportation efforts, aiming to remove up to 1 million immigrants annually over four years. California’s legal aid funds do not cover individuals with serious or violent felony convictions, though state law allows for their transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Speaker of the California Assembly Robert Rivas condemned federal immigration raids, vowing that California will continue to oppose what he called “cruel and unlawful” enforcement actions.
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