The City of Pico Rivera City Council made a bold move in response to recent federal immigration enforcement activity within the City by unanimously establishing a legal assistance fund for residents who have been impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency Detentions.
The decision comes off the heels of the detention of a local resident, who was detained and subsequently released on bail. In addition, the City has received multiple inquiries from community members and advocacy groups regarding access to legal assistance.
Like many Cities in the State, the City has not cooperated with civil immigration enforcement under California law (SB 54) and has worked to ensure that all residents feel safe and protected. However, legal representation remains a critical gap for those detained during these operations, particularly individuals without the financial means to secure timely legal support.
To ensure impacted residents have access to legal aid, the City is establishing a City-supported legal fund to assist residents of Pico Rivera who are detained by ICE authorities, or face removal proceedings due to ICE enforcement actions. The intent is to ensure due process and legal equity while implementing responsible guardrails to ensure the program does not support individuals detained for serious criminal activity.
The Legal Assistance Program seeks to provide emergency legal defense or case navigation to those individuals detained as part of an ICE operation. Through the program, affected families will be connected to trusted legal providers such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Central American Resource Center (CARE CEN), or the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs network.
The overall goal of this program is to prevent wrongful detentions, protect constitutional rights of those detained, and to reduce the risk of family separation or unjust removal. “It truly is unfortunate to see what has been going on in our community over the past couple of months,” said City Manager Steve Carmona.
“The action of the City Council is a true testament to their commitment to ensure residents who have been impacted by the recent ICE Operations are not alone, and the City is ready to assist where needed.”
With passage last month, City staff are finalizing important steps and participant guidelines for the program to be rolled out as soon as possible. Information will be forthcoming on the City’s Social Media platforms, and on the City’s website at pico-rivera.org.
