Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently unveiled a new initiative aimed at providing direct financial aid to illegal immigrant families impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
The program is part of an executive order directing all city departments to refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, reinforcing the city’s sanctuary policies amid increasing ICE operations.
The cash assistance program is designed to help families who have lost income or who are too fearful of arrest or deportation to maintain regular work schedules.
Bass described the situation as “unlawful and chaotic,” emphasizing the need to protect illegal immigrant communities from what she called disruptive enforcement practices.
The prepaid “cash cards” will each hold several hundred dollars and are modeled after a similar relief effort launched under former Mayor Eric Garcetti during the COVID-19 pandemic, when “Angelino cards” were distributed to struggling residents, Newsmax reports.
Unlike the pandemic program, this new cash aid effort will rely entirely on philanthropic donations, rather than city funds, a decision that comes as Los Angeles faces a projected $1 billion budget deficit.
The mayor’s office has not yet detailed eligibility requirements but plans to work closely with immigrant rights organizations for the program’s rollout.
Groups like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) will manage the card distribution, according to Breitbart News.
CHIRLA’s role in the program has raised concerns among some critics.
The group has a history of organizing protests against ICE enforcement, some of which have escalated into violent confrontations.
Despite this, city officials view the partnership as key to ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable families affected by ICE activities.
The city’s stance marks a continuation of long-standing tensions between Los Angeles and federal immigration authorities.
Past ICE raids in the city sparked widespread protests and riots severe enough to prompt the deployment of the National Guard. Damage estimates from these events reached nearly $20 million.
The conflict also plays out in the courts.
The Trump administration sued Los Angeles over its sanctuary policies, arguing the city’s refusal to cooperate with ICE obstructs lawful immigration enforcement.
Los Angeles responded with a countersuit, alleging that federal immigration operations violate constitutional protections for its residents.
Protests against immigration enforcement remain common across California.
In a recent notable incident, shots were reportedly fired at federal agents during a raid on a marijuana processing facility in Camarillo, as previously reported by Resist the Mainstream.
The Department of Justice responded by offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture, per Newsmax.
Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly commented on the Camarillo raid, highlighting the emotional toll on illegal immigrant families, including reports of children crying on the phone in fear.
Customs and Border Protection officials clarified that authorities discovered 10 undocumented juveniles at the facility during the operation, underscoring the humanitarian complexities involved in enforcement actions.
This new aid initiative reflects Los Angeles’ ongoing effort to shield its illegal immigrant population from federal enforcement while addressing the economic fallout of ICE raids.
How effective the program will be in mitigating the impact on families remains to be seen as distribution begins.
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The post Karen Bass Unveils Cash Assistance Program for Illegal Immigrants Avoiding Work Over ICE Fears appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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