Residents urge Ontario to establish immigrant compassion fund after alleged ICE/CBP incidents

Multiple residents told the council they are living in fear of immigration enforcement and asked Ontario to create an immigrant compassion fund to help families affected by ICE and CBP operations.

"I am again requesting that the city fund an immigrant compassion fund for families affected by ICE and now CBP rates in our city," Tina Silva said during public comment, adding that "just last Thursday, a gentleman was taken from the corner of Holt and Euclid at a bus stop." Silva said other California cities have established such funds and described the need for food and legal resources for affected families. She told the council a scoping meeting was scheduled for Thursday at De Anza at 6:00 and urged that agenda items be discussed publicly before approval.

Robert Vevar described a more forceful characterization of enforcement activity: "Masked gunmen and unmarked vehicles are allowed to operate freely while abducting, assaulting, and terrorizing our community members," he said, adding that civilians are being abducted at gunpoint and that the city should act to protect residents. Roxanne Bautista read a poem addressing fear and detention in immigrant communities and underscored the human impact of enforcement practices.

Councilmembers did not place the immigrant-compassion fund on the evening’s agenda and took no formal action on the request. City staff later noted that updated materials for other consent items were posted after the agenda and available at the dais and with the clerk; no city commitment to create the requested fund was recorded in the meeting minutes.

What to watch: Advocates said they will press the council for follow-up and public process; the transcript records community members asking for concrete assistance (food, legal resources) and for the city to coordinate with other agencies. The council did not indicate next steps or schedule for the specific fund request during this meeting.