Sacramento, California – Gavin Newsom announced a significant state investment and a major philanthropic partnership to help stabilize immigrant families throughout California in response to the federal government’s increasing immigration enforcement.
The decision comes as the Trump administration steps up its attempts to detain and deport people across the country. State leaders say these tactics are causing panic and breaking apart communities.
State officials said they have spoken to families who feel afraid to leave their homes because they don’t know if their loved ones will come home from work or school. Some children have reportedly been separated from parents. Some people are missing their doctor’s appointments or having trouble paying for food. There are also stories of people being sent back to their home countries before they can talk to a lawyer or speak with their family.
California is using up to $35 million in existing humanitarian funds and combining them with almost $30 million in recent donations to help with these issues. The California Community Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, and the Sierra Health Foundation are all partners. The state funding won’t give out cash directly, but it will let nonprofit organizations give in-kind help like meals, legal guidance, and links to reliable community resources.
The project is part of a larger attempt by the state to pay for legal assistance for immigrants. Earlier this year, California gave $15 million to 33 organizations that help people fight deportation. In total, the state has given $125 million in recent funding for free legal services linked to immigration. That includes continuous support, special session funds, and investments in youth legal services and regional cooperation. The state is making legal help for people who are in jail stronger and reaching out to more people in more languages through networks of NGOs that help immigrants.
Officials stress that California’s police do not take part in large immigration raids; instead, they focus on keeping the public safe. State laws only allow federal immigration officials to work with people who have been convicted of serious offenses. Additional protections for schools, hospitals, and parents’ rights require court orders before some acts can take place.
Newsom said that the partnership was necessary for both humanitarian and economic reasons. There are millions of immigrant families living in California, and many of them have mixed-status households.
State leaders say that mass deportations might have big effects on the economy, like fewer jobs and decreased tax money. California wants to keep families connected to legal representation, protect due process, and make communities stronger during a time of increased uncertainty by working together with public and private resources.