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Board asks CEO to explore county immigration legal defense fund after community reports detentions
Summary
Following public testimony about recent immigration enforcement activity affecting local families, Supervisor Long asked the CEO to explore creation of a county‑coordinated immigration legal defense fund and to work with nonprofit partners and cities; board members expressed support for humanitarian aid and legal access.
The Board of Supervisors discussed reports from community members and nonprofit groups about a surge of immigration enforcement activity in Ventura County and the impacts on families, job continuity and local services, and asked the county executive to explore funding and coordination options.
During the general comment period and later in the meeting, several residents, union representatives and community organizers described detentions of local residents and said families were suffering grief, loss of income, and difficulty accessing legal representation. They urged the county to support legal counsel access and humanitarian aid.
Supervisor Matt LaVere, Supervisor Long and others described reported incidents and asked county leadership to respond. Supervisor Long formally requested that the county executive work with experienced legal nonprofits — including the Immigration Defenders Law Center and local organizations — and with cities and other partners to explore establishing an immigration legal defense fund for Ventura County, and to identify funding sources the county could contribute.
The board did not adopt a spending commitment at the June 24 meeting; instead, supervisors directed the CEO’s office to: (1) meet with nonprofit partners and cities, (2) evaluate funding and legal structures that could support legal representation, and (3) return with recommendations. Several supervisors emphasized the county’s role as a safety net and asked staff to assess immediate community needs such as food, housing assistance and legal services.
Ending note: The board’s instruction is a direction to staff to research options and partners for a county‑coordinated legal assistance mechanism; any funding or program decisions would require a future board action.
