Committee moves to restore $1 million for immigrant legal aid, approves related immigration and trans-protection motions

The Los Angeles Committee on Equity, Immigration and Disabilities voted on Aug. 1 to approve a package of motions (items 5–11) aimed at strengthening local responses to federal immigration enforcement and protecting LGBTQ communities, and instructed city executives to return within 15 days with options to apply $1,000,000 toward the city—s Represent LA legal defense program.

The action came after more than an hour of public comment from immigrant-rights and LGBTQ advocates urging immediate funding and operational support. "Va a salvar vidas," a public speaker said of increased funding for legal defense, adding, "esto va a matar a gente" if protections are not enacted for transgender people and other vulnerable groups.

The committee—s decision followed a presentation from Julie Jacoby of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, who reviewed past city spending for the Represent LA program and funding constraints. Jacoby told the panel the city has distributed a total of $5,000,000 for Represent LA since the program launched, noted uneven spending across fiscal years and said her office did not recommend using the…