28 (05)You don't often get email from afields@cair.com. Learn why this is important
Date:3/24/2026 3:01:39 PM
From:"Amina Fields" aFields@cair.com
To:"Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim.net
Cc:"Aliya Yousufi" AYousufi@cair.com, "Basha Jamil" BJamil@cair.com
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Letter of Support for the Anaheim Immigration Legal Defe nse Fund
Attachment:CAIR Letter to Anaheim City Council 3.24.2026.pdf;
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Dear City Council Members,
Please find attached a letter in support of the Anaheim Immigration Legal Defense Fund.
Amina Fields | Immi grants' Ri ghts Se ni or Managing Attorney
C ouncil on A m e rican-Islam ic Re lat ions, C alifor nia
Grea ter Lo s A n g eles A rea O ffice
2 1 8 0 W . Cr es c ent Ave., Ste. F | An a h ei m, CA 9 2 8 0 1
www.c a i r l a .o r g | 7 1 4 .7 7 6 .1 1 7 7
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In the Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Greater Los Angeles Office
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801
Tel. 714.776.1847 ca.cair.com
WASHINGTON D.C.
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March 24, 2026
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and Members of City Council
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Item 28 – Urgent Request to Establish a City-Supported Immigration Legal Defense Fund
Dear Mayor Aitken and Members of the Anaheim City Council,
On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, we urge the City of Anaheim to establish a dedicated
immigration legal defense fund to support residents and families impacted by ongoing immigration enforcement raids
in the amount of $100,000 or more.
Anaheim has already demonstrated leadership through the Anaheim Contigo Fund, which has provided critical
assistance to hundreds of families facing hardship. However, as city staff have acknowledged, the current program is
limited in scope and resources, particularly when it comes to addressing the growing need for legal representation.
Legal defense is a matter of due process and fundamental fairness. Without access to legal counsel, individuals facing
deportation are significantly less likely to be able to navigate complex immigration proceedings, even when they may
have valid claims to remain in the country.
At the same time, Anaheim has been deeply impacted by immigration enforcement activity. Across Orange County,
cities are recognizing the urgency of this moment and stepping up to protect their communities. Most recently, the City
of Irvine approved the creation of a legal aid fund to connect immigrant families with attorneys and provide immediate
representation, emphasizing the importance of due process and community safety.
If Anaheim acts now, it would join a growing list of cities including Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Irvine that are
investing in legal defense infrastructure to ensure residents are not left to face detention and deportation alone.
We respectfully urge the City Council to establish a immigration legal defense fund in the amount of $100,000,
ensuring it provides timely access to legal representation, including intake, screenings, and direct legal services. The
City should partner with trusted community-based organizations and legal service providers to ensure services are
delivered efficiently and in a timely manner.
At a time when fear and uncertainty are rising, Anaheim has the opportunity to lead with compassion, fairness, and a
commitment to justice.
Sincerely,
Amina Fields, Esq.
Senior Managing Attorney for the Immigrants’ Rights Center