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Alameda County Board Allocates Funds for Immigrant Support Services
A recent unanimous decision by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in Oakland has earmarked approximately $2.2 million to bolster services aimed at aiding illegal immigrants and refugees within the community. This initiative comes as a direct response to increased immigration enforcement measures associated with the Trump administration.
During their regular meeting held on Tuesday, the Board acted on recommendations from the Alameda County Together for All Committee. Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, who chairs the committee, expressed a commitment to ensuring that residents are well-informed and that efforts to protect vulnerable populations are both effective and inclusive. “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,” she stated.
Funding Breakdown and Services Provided
Minutes from the meeting reveal specific allocations of funds directed toward various organizations designed to assist marginalized immigrant communities. A total of $50,000 will be granted to Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach to provide essential legal services and advocacy.
Additionally, the board has approved a maximum of $700,000 for Centro Legal de La Raza, aimed at launching a Rapid Response Hotline and offering Know Your Rights training sessions alongside other preemptive legal services and volunteer coordination efforts. This organization focuses on protecting and advancing the rights of low-income immigrant, Black, and Latinx populations, employing bilingual legal representation and advocacy.
In February, the board had previously approved $1.3 million to support illegal immigrants facing deportation, indicating a continued commitment to this cause. Trabajadores Unidos Workers United was also approved for the allocation of up to $500,000 for community resources and preparation aimed at immigrant and refugee populations.
This organization’s mission highlights the empowerment of working-class immigrants through education and direct action against workplace exploitation. “TUWU believes in upholding the power of working-class immigrants through forging class consciousness and growing the leadership of low-wage immigrant workers,” according to their website.
Moreover, the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice will receive up to $1 million designated for legal support services. As outlined on their website, the mission focuses on advocacy and legal services to promote the liberation of detained immigrants within California.
Supervisor David Haubert noted that this funding represents a community effort supported by a public/private partnership, emphasizing that the fiscal responsibility does not rest solely on the county’s shoulders.
In a reflection of the county’s demographic makeup, Supervisor Fortunato Bas pointed out that one-third of Alameda County’s residents are immigrants, with half of the children growing up in households containing at least one immigrant parent. She expressed the need for protective measures, asserting that federal policies have instilled fear among community members. “The unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors demonstrates our county’s commitment to our immigrant and refugee communities, who will have more access to critical information, services, and legal support,” she commented.
The recent funding decisions come in conjunction with the already allocated $1.3 million aimed at supporting the Immigration Unit of the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office, which provides legal defense services for individuals facing deportation.
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