Immigrant‑rights groups urge San Jose to boost funding for legal services amid warnings of expanded federal deportations

Multiple speakers at the June 3 San Jose City Council meeting urged the city to increase funding for immigrant legal services and outreach in anticipation of a national expansion of immigration enforcement.

Representatives of Amigos de Guadalupe and other community organizations told the council that recent national actions and projections for a larger federal enforcement campaign will result in mass arrests and deportations, and they asked San Jose to increase its proposed budget commitment from $500,000 to $1.5 million for legal aid, rapid response and community education.

Jeremy Bruce of Amigos de Guadalupe said local providers need more funds to prepare for an expected surge: “We appreciate the $500,000 commitment, but we at least need $1,500,000 so that legal providers can get the help to [prepare],” he said. Several other speakers shared personal stories of fear and recent arrests, including a parent who described an April arrest of her husband during a routine drive to daycare and volunteers who recounted rapid‑response work that helped reunite children with family members.

Speakers described widespread anxiety among mixed‑status families and said legal representation dramatically improves outcomes for individuals facing deportation. “When immigrants have access to attorneys, they are 10 times more likely to win their cases, remain with their families, and continue contributing to our city,” Jessica Deresa of Amigos de Guadalupe said.

Community advocates proposed specific funding sources and urged the council to reallocate budget items if necessary. One speaker suggested funding the additional $1 million from vacant police positions set aside for a new Neighborhood Quality of Life unit, arguing that reallocating some of those savings would not reduce police capacity but would increase overall public safety by supporting families and preventing destabilizing deportations. A city staff memo shared during the meeting indicated the mayor’s proposed budget included $500,000 for immigrant services; speakers asked the council to expand that amount.

Councilmembers did not take an immediate budget vote during the open forum; several councilmembers thanked speakers and said they would consider the requests as the budget process continues.

Votes: No formal council vote occurred on this request during the meeting; the public comment was entered into the record for budget deliberations.