Richmond City Council expands aid to immigrants, as ICE threats continue

The Richmond City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to expand emergency assistance for immigrants, including funds for rent, utilities and food. 

More than $140,000 will be diverted for these needs from a $1 million fund approved for immigration legal aid in March. Council members said adding flexibility to the aid program will help meet urgent needs in the community.  

“ICE is coming and breaking families apart,” said Councilmember Claudia Jimenez, who first suggested the expansion. “We want to protect these families, not only legally, but protect them from being homeless and not having food at the table.”

In early October, ICE raids in Richmond left two families reportedly fatherless. An anonymous community member started a GoFundMe campaign called “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” So far, $8,359 has been raised for the two families.

“We are hoping to fundraise enough to give them time to find jobs and to stay housed,” the GoFundMe post said. “Not only do they need help with rent, utilities, and phone access, but they also need to buy food, diapers, and other hygiene necessities.”

The Immigrant Legal Services and Outreach Program that the council set up in March has repeatedly faced delays, sitting untouched for months because of problems finding a contractor. On Oct. 2, city officials announced they had selected three nonprofits to oversee the aid work. 

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant will receive $323,000 for legal defense over two years; Catholic Charities East Bay will get $394,000 for legal services and outreach for one year; and the Multicultural Institute will receive $130,000 for public awareness. An additional $10,000 will support the city’s Municipal ID Program, which provides people with government identification regardless of immigration status. 

Gabino Arredondo, the fund’s project manager, explained that city leaders realized they needed to do more than support legal expenses. The nonprofits now will be asked to submit proposals explaining how they would deliver other kinds of services and reach the people who need them most. 

“Some immigrant families face immediate crises that threaten housing stability, due to loss of income, inability to pay rent, utilities and food,” Arredondo said.

The process could take a few weeks, he said, after which families can apply for support.

“This will not remove the barriers entirely but allow time for families to participate in legal consultation and evaluate other options for income and assistance with less stress,” Arredondo said. 

Other California cities are moving to safeguard their immigrant populations. This week, the Santa Ana City Council unanimously voted to allocate at least an additional $100,000 to aid residents affected by recent immigration enforcement actions. And last week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors deemed immigration raids a local “state of emergency,” according to LAist.  The vote enables local decision-makers to pull financial and aid resources from other counties and speeds up Los Angeles’ response in tackling the crisis. 

During Richmond’s council meeting, residents showed support for immigrants in the community. 

“Hopefully we can continue to show our immigrant community that, in Richmond, we care for them, and they are a core part of our community,” said Joslyn Diaz.

Andrew Melendez said the GoFundMe campaigns have been inspiring, but more is necessary. “We can do so much more to provide that crucial support for the community members that are really in need,” he said.

(Top photo: Richmond City Council on Oct. 21, by Zoe Meyer)

Reporter Grace McCarty contributed to this story.

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