A legal aid fund could be coming to help Anaheim residents caught up in ICE raids while city officials also consider replenishing an existing aid program that helps impacted residents with things like rent and groceries.
Shortly after the ICE raids kicked off last summer, Anaheim was one of the first cities in OC to create an aid fund – known as Anaheim Contigo – but the $250,000 program lacked a legal defense fund.
[Read: Anaheim Gives Immigrant Aid Fund a $250K Boost]
Now, City Councilman Carlos Leon is spearheading a legal defense fund proposal at tomorrow’s 5 p.m. city council meeting.
“Since the inception of Anaheim Contigo, staff have received feedback indicating a need for legal defense for immigration-related matters,” reads a staff report. “Depending on the scope and demand, the preliminary estimate to launch the legal defense component ranges from $50,000 to $100,000.”
Sandra De Anda, director of policy and legal strategy for the OC Rapid Response Network, said legal aid services are key for residents navigating immigration courts.
“I’m hopeful that the city council in Anaheim considers doing a comprehensive and holistic legal defense fund that mirrors the funds in Costa Mesa and Santa Ana,” De Anda said in a phone interview.
[Read: Immigrant Aid Efforts Expand Again in Orange County]
De Anda and the Rapid Response Network help confirm deportation sweeps, educate people on their rights and help connect detained immigrants to legal resources.
“I hope Anaheim is able to speak with us, able to speak with other partners to get a legal defense fund going because a lot of families are still waiting for their loved ones to come out of detention,” she said.
Many observers, including De Anda, found that abrupt changes to federal immigration policy have shifted once-documented immigrants to undocumented immigrants – leading to arrests in front of places like immigration courthouses.
[Read: Orange County’s Year on ICE]
Marisol Ramirez, deputy director of Orange County Communities for Responsible Development, noted that Anaheim’s behind other cities when it comes to legal aid.
“The impacts on the household around their immediate needs on housing, food – you need that type of emergency assistance. But we’re also seeing the robust gap on legal aid,” Ramirez said in an interview.
She also said the situation is long-term.
“This is a new reality of what we’re going to be facing for the next three to five years for families,” Ramirez said.
Meanwhile, city council members are also expected to consider more funding for the aid program at their meeting tomorrow.
“As of March 17, 2026, the Anaheim Contigo Program has received financial assistance requests totaling $225,262, leaving a remaining balance of $24,738 available for ongoing emergency requests. In total, 343 Anaheim residents have benefited from the program,” reads the staff report.
According to the staff report, officials are also looking to fund rent assistance through the housing trust fund.
“Beginning April 1, 2026, the Housing and Community Development Department will launch the ‘Stay Housed Anaheim Program,’ which will provide one-time emergency rental assistance of up to $3,000 for Anaheim residents,” reads the staff report.
“In addition, Anaheim Public Utilities will expand access to electrical and water bill assistance programs. Residents in need of support will be referred directly for utility bill assistance through existing programs.”
This week, city officials noted that deportation efforts have slowed down in recent months.
“Anaheim currently is seeing targeted enforcement once a week on average, with a shift away from roving enforcement after the tragic events of the Minneapolis area in January. Targeted enforcement typically focuses on one person or a few specific people and takes place at homes, in neighborhoods, at businesses and, while rarer, sometimes near schools,” reads the Anaheim Contigo website, which is updated daily.
“Broader enforcement includes roving patrols going to car washes, Home Depot parking lots, bus stops, recycling center, street vending and other open, public spaces.”
Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.