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Scores of residents urge San Bernardino County to adopt pro‑immigrant resolution, fund legal services
Summary
More than a dozen speakers at the March 25 Board of Supervisors meeting called on the board to draft and adopt a resolution declaring San Bernardino County a safe, welcoming place for immigrants and to create funded legal defense resources.
More than a dozen residents, immigrants and local advocates urged the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on March 25 to draft and adopt a resolution affirming the county as a safe and welcoming place for immigrant residents and to invest in legal defense services.
Speakers representing several community organizations said the resolution should be paired with a justice fund to expand access to immigration counsel and to protect mixed‑status families. They described fear among residents who have U.S.‑citizen children or long ties to the county and asked the board to back measures that would keep families intact and preserve access to schools and county services.
Advocates from groups including the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective and local legal aid providers told supervisors the county’s immigrant population is large and entwined with the local economy. “Our immigrant community is part and partial,” said a community legal-services representative during public comment, describing workers in construction, warehousing and hospitality. Several speakers asked the board to create an explicit county policy to limit coordination with federal immigration enforcement and to fund legal representation for detained residents.
Speakers cited recent actions elsewhere: Riverside County and several local school districts have adopted similar measures, they said, and asked San Bernardino County not to fall behind. Multiple speakers asked for a commitment to provide secure access to county services and protection for students and families who fear immigration enforcement.
Board members did not take action on a resolution during the meeting; public comment was received and filed. Several organizations asked staff to begin drafting language and to present options for a legal‑defense fund and for protections to reduce deportation risk.
Supporters said the policy would be both a public‑safety measure and an investment in community well‑being. They urged the board to work with local legal providers and to use existing county data and outreach channels to ensure residents know how to access services.
The board did not schedule a vote on a resolution during the March 25 meeting. Advocates said they will follow up with the supervisors’ offices and with county staff to request drafting and an implementation timeline.
