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Anaheim Contigo for emergency assistance
Anaheim is working with the Anaheim Community Foundation on emergency assistance grants for impacted families in our neighborhoods as part of our Anaheim Contigo initiative.
Grants are through our neighborhood Family Resource Centers, where we are already connected with families in need.
We are working directly with families we’re connected with at the Ponderosa Park and Family Resource Center, Miraloma Park & Family Resource Center, Downtown Anaheim Family Resource Center as well as our mobile Family Resource Centers that are out in our neighborhoods each week.
If you’re wanting to help, you can donate to Anaheim Contigo through the Anaheim Community Foundation, our city’s trusted nonprofit partner serving youth, families and older adults in Anaheim.
Go to Anaheimcf.org and look for “Anaheim Contigo” in red at the top of the page.
Grants
Grants are to help families with rent, household essentials and utility bills as some may not be going out or unable to work.
The program is only available to Anaheim residents.
To ensure money is going where it’s most needed, our case managers will work with families with demonstrated need based on household income, loss of income, inability to work or concerns about going out for groceries and other essential needs.
All information is confidential.
This program is through our Family Resource Centers and the neighborhoods they serve, where we know the need is greatest. Please note this is a focused assistance program for our neighborhoods and not an open call for applications.
If you believe you might qualify, reach out to our Family Resource Centers by coming in or calling.
If you need additional assistance specifically for utilities, you can visit this Anaheim Public Utilities webpage.
Anaheim Community Foundation
Anaheim Community Foundation, founded in 1984, is our city’s leading nonprofit serving youth, families and older adults.
It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with financials independently audited each year. You can learn more at Anaheimcf.org.
Temporary restraining order
A federal judge on July 11 issued a temporary restraining order in a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles (which Anaheim is seeking to join).
A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld the restraining order on Aug. 1, denying the federal government's request for a stay, or pause, in the order. You can read the decision here.
The federal government is appealing the appeals court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court with an emergency petition filed Aug. 7. It is unknown yet if the Supreme Court will hear the petition or let the appeals court ruling stand.
Lawyers on behalf of those who brought the lawsuit filed a brief in opposition to the government's emergency petition on Aug. 12.
The temporary restraining order halts indiscriminate immigration enforcement in public places by roving patrols without a warrant or the legal standard of reasonable suspicion. It also requires access to legal representation for those detained.
The temporary restraining order applies to Anaheim, Orange County, Los Angeles County and others across Southern California.
You can see the order here.
Under the order, federal immigration enforcement officials would be unable to go to Home Depots, car washes and other open, public places and conduct operations without prior, documented evidence, and anyone detained would need to be connected with a lawyer within 24 hours.
Note that the orders do not stop targeted enforcement in cases where there are judicial or administrative warrants, deportation orders, criminal convictions and other specific situations. That appears to be the case with some enforcement reports throughout our region since the order.
Where we're at
We continue to see federal immigration enforcement in our region that appears to be challenging a July 11 temporary restraining order.
The order precludes roving patrol enforcement at public places without a warrant or the legal standard of reasonable suspicion.
Those concerned should assume federal immigration enforcement is continuing to play out in our area (while being aware of the temporary restraining order above).
Enforcement is being done by different, related federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, Border Patrol, a unit of Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Homeland Security.
Anaheim Police, Anaheim Fire & Rescue and our entire city are not involved in federal immigration enforcement and are not notified about details of operations.
We condemn how federal immigration enforcement has played out in our city and do not support any enforcement activity that destabilizes families, neighborhoods and our economy.
As a city, we advocate for comprehensive, humane immigration reform with sensible border security, practical worker programs and earned citizenship for those who have played by the rules since coming here.
What to know
Federal enforcement in Anaheim and elsewhere includes targeted investigations and has included broad enforcement, with federal agents from various agencies out in our community and others across our region.
Targeted enforcement can take place at homes, in neighborhoods and at businesses with a judicial warrant or administrative warrant and can involve deportation orders or suspicion of criminal activity.
Broader enforcement efforts include going to car washes, Home Depot parking lots, bus stops and other open, public spaces, "consensual stops" where an officer asks someone out in public if they can talk to them, or questioning of "collaterals" — others onsite at the scene of enforcement who are not the initial focus.
Those concerned to should know what their rights are in those situations.
While Anaheim does not support how enforcement is playing out, federal agencies have the legal basis to conduct enforcement operations here and across the country based on actions by Congress, court decisions and the U.S. Code.
You can see see the U.S. Code section here.
How enforcement is carried out is a matter for the courts, and we need the courts to step in and address what appears to be excessive tactics without reasonable suspicion.
Anaheim Police and other local law enforcement
Anaheim Police is not involved in immigration enforcement and is here to serve everyone in our city, regardless of background, status and language.
If you see our police out in our community, they are there for everyone's safety — not immigration enforcement.
That goes for any local law enforcement you may see in Anaheim, including the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Orange County Probation, California Highway Patrol and neighboring police agencies, including Fullerton, Garden Grove and Santa Ana.
All local and California law enforcement agencies are bound by California law, which limits involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
We urge everyone to familiarize themselves with local law enforcement and their badges, patches and other identification.
Anaheim Police and others typically will be clearly identifiable by uniforms, badges, patches and logo.
Note that Anaheim Police and other local agencies do a variety of work to keep our community safe, including undercover officers, unmarked and tactical operations.
In all cases, they are not doing immigration enforcement.
Anaheim Police do not wear face coverings except in rare cases where that may be needed for an officer's safety.
Everyone in Anaheim can be confident in calling police, fire and emergency medical services as well as in visiting City Hall, libraries, community centers, parks and and all city facilities, without regard to immigration status.
Resources
Office of Rep. Lou Correa
2323 N. Broadway, Suite 319, Santa Ana
(714) 559-6190
Orange County Labor Federation
309 N. Rampart St. Suite A, Orange
(714) 385-1534
Orange County Justice Fund
(714) 340-5469
Orange County Rapid Response Network
(714) 881-1558
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
(888) 349-9695
National Immigration Law Center
(213) 639-3900
Legal resources
We are working with groups that provide help with legal issues as part of the Anaheim Contigo initiative.
For those in our community who may need legal assistance, you can contact two credible nonprofits you can reach out to: Public Law Center and Orange County Justice Fund (details below).
Anaheim has been in contact with both organizations and is familiar with their work serving our community.
They provide services to those in custody, people with pending hearings and assistance with immigration bonds.
Public Law Center
Publiclawcenter.org
601 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana
(714) 541-1010, ext. 332
Free legal support services for those at low income, prioritizing those who are in federal immigration detention custody and those with upcoming immigration court hearings. Inquire by leaving a message (in English or Spanish) at the number and extension above.
Please note: less urgent cases will take longer amid heavy inquiry and prioritization of current detentions and court cases.
Orange County Justice Fund
ocjusticefund.org
info@ocjusticefund.org
Santa Ana
(714) 340-5469
Provides immigration bond assistance for those detained and where a judge sets a bond, or money that is used for release from detention while a case proceeds.
Legal services: avoiding scams
Immigration-related legal services are in demand, and with that comes some looking to take advantage. Here are some things to consider:
- Only work with a licensed attorney
- Notarios are not lawyers and cannot provide legal representation
- Ask where a lawyer is licensed and for their bar number
- Get everything in writing
- Do not pay cash — use a cashier’s check if needed
- Avoid anyone asking for cash
- Verify lawyers with the State Bar of California
Calbar.ca.gov • (800) 843-9053
Passport Help for Anaheim Families
Anaheim is here to support families applying for U.S. passports, including those in mixed-status households.
Passport services are available by appointment at Anaheim City Hall. Spanish-speaking staff are available to assist and answer questions about the process.
Applicants age 16 and older may apply on their own.
If you are applying for a passport for a child younger than 16, please come prepared with a certified birth certificate. Both parents or legal guardians must be present at the appointment. If one parent or guardian cannot attend, a notarized DS-3053 form is required.
Learn more and make an appointment at Anaheim.net/passports.
Employers and workplaces: what to know
Workplaces across Anaheim and our region are being impacted by federal immigration enforcement, including audits, targeted enforcement, larger operations or what are known as "consensual encounters" where agents enter public spaces and ask to talk with people.
Employers, owners and operators can can see more about what to know for workplaces at these links:
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