California Expands Immigration Legal Help: $193 Million in the 2026–27 Budget, Community Partners Reach Over 500,000 People
In Sacramento, the capital city in Sacramento County, California, the Governor's Office said on October 31 that, as federal immigration enforcement intensifies, California is deepening efforts to expand legal support, including for farmworkers and their families. Community partners have connected more than 500,000 Californians with vital support to date, the office said.
More than half a million Californians have been reached through state-funded immigration-related legal services and regional community support initiatives, helping families, workers and business owners understand their rights, find trusted resources and navigate increasingly complex immigration challenges. California is expanding its network of trusted community messengers and legal service providers to help more people access qualified legal assistance and support families targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests and detention.
"While increased federal enforcement creates fear and uncertainty, California is stepping up—with real legal help, trusted community partners and support for families when they need it most. California will not turn its back on immigrant families. No one in this country is without rights. We're getting people the facts, the legal help, and the support they need to protect their rights and keep their families together," Governor Gavin Newsom said.
The 2026–27 state budget provides $193 million to support families with immigration-related services. The funding supports regional immigration services and more than doubles support for immigration-related legal services, with an expanded focus on building the capacity of nonprofit legal services and strategies to help Californians in ICE detention.
The efforts aim to expand legal defense response to detentions, improve access to legal representation for Californians in immigration court, including a new "attorney of the day" pilot, increase legal capacity in rural underserved areas through immigration fellows, provide services for children, and advance a new pilot so more Californians have qualified legal support in the face of detention and deportation by expanding nonprofit legal capacity with trusted private immigration attorneys when nonprofits are at capacity.
A new investment will also provide dedicated free legal assistance to farmworkers and their families. The initiative will partner with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency's worker outreach partners to maximize reach and collaboration, supporting this vulnerable workforce and their families.
Help available includes Know Your Rights education, family preparedness planning resources and connections to health, legal and social services; qualified immigration legal services, including assistance for people in removal proceedings and those in ICE detention; and information and support for workers and small business owners. Legal help may be available from nonprofit organizations; details are on the California immigration resources page.
The Governor's Office reminded residents of three points: you have the right to remain silent and may ask to speak with a lawyer, and you do not have to answer questions about your immigration status or place of birth—do not run, lie, or present false documents; you generally do not have to let immigration agents into your home without a judicial warrant, and a warrant signed by a judge is different from an immigration administrative warrant—do not physically resist agents; and you have the right to seek legal counsel—if detained, ask to speak with a lawyer, and do not sign documents you do not understand or have not reviewed with legal counsel.
Families are advised to make a plan before an emergency: identify trusted emergency contacts, arrange care for children and other dependents, and keep important documents and phone numbers somewhere safe. Californians who witness potentially unlawful conduct by federal agents can submit information, photographs and video through the California Department of Justice reporting portal; anyone in immediate danger, or who believes a crime is occurring, should call 911.
Senate President pro Tem Monique Limón said the State Senate has passed dozens of bills and included resources for organizations helping affected communities. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said California has delivered millions of dollars in legal services to every corner of the state. Senator Lena Gonzalez, chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, said the caucus worked with the Governor and leadership in both houses to secure over $100 million for legal aid and other immigration resources.
The Governor's Office said Newsom recently signed a package of legislation addressing immigration detention, enforcement transparency, civil rights, state facilities, public records, family services and oversight of civil detention facilities in California. Since 2019, California has helped residents navigate the immigration legal process through a network of nonprofit legal service providers, and has continued to expand legal help for people in ICE detention.
Source: GSM, America
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于萨克拉门托的加州议会大厦（州长办公室稿固定图）。Andre m摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / The California State Capitol in Sacramento (fixed photo for Governor's Office stories). Photo by Andre m, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
