28 (09)Date:3/24/2026 4:48:58 PM
From:"Pat D" pat7oaks@gmail.com
To:"Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim.net
Subject:[EXTERNAL] March 24, 2026 Agenda item 28
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sender and are expecting the message.
City Council members,
I am unable to attend in person this evening so I am writing to urge the Anaheim City Council to take strong leadership and establish several
support services, including this immigration legal defense fund in the amount of at least $100,000, ensuring it provides timely access to legal
representation, including intake, screenings, and direct legal services. For many of my precious neighbors, interactions with immigration
enforcement have been deeply personal, leaving devastating and lasting impacts on families.
Anaheim can join the leadership of cities like Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Buena Park, and Irvine–where legal providers (PLC, ImmDef, etc)
participated in an RFP process to then hire additional staff–to ensure residents are not left to face detention and deportation alone.
I have sadly seen first hand that Anaheim is a hotspot for enforcement actions where agents have taken 30 of our friends at the local Home Depot
across 8 raids between June 2025 and January 2026. These are terrifying events! With immigration enforcement funding at a record high, the city
must respond accordingly. As you know, it is likely needs will exceed the proposed $100,000. (Santa Ana spent down $250k within 5 months
due to the expenses incurred with numerous, extended cases.)
In addition, the City should allocate an additional $250K to Anaheim Contigo. The program is a great first step but needs improvement to
adequately support our families and neighbors housing security.
Anaheim Contigo needs additional funding. The City should declare a state of emergency to unlock additional funding! We are currently
experiencing a county-wide humanitarian disaster, characterized by a severe scarcity of resources and a devastating wave of family separations.
Our communities are facing starvation, imminent displacement, educational disruption, and a widespread deprivation of the constitutionally
guaranteed right to due process. The mass, often illegal, federal enforcement operations have a catastrophic impact on community stability, parallel
to that of a natural disaster. The priority must shift from routine budgeting to supporting the material well-being and safety of residents in a disaster.
This means unlocking discretionary funds and responsibly reallocating lower-priority spending—such as social events and photo opps that many in
our terrified community are too afraid to attend—toward urgent human needs!
The community is paying attention amd at a time when fear and uncertainty are rising, Anaheim has the opportunity to lead with compassion. I care
about this city and our families, and ask that you listen to the people and take action to protect our families and neighbors!
Finally, I would love to have been in the "room" tonite, but am unable to do so. Therefore, I also ask that you implement SB707 - The Brown Act
requirements!!! Be a leader here as well and offer hybrid, real time access to your meetings NOW!
Thank you,
Pat Davis (she/they)
District 1 Resident