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The Montebello City Council unanimously voted for an emergency fund for families affected by the recent ice attack in Los Angeles.
The Montebello Humanitarian Services program launched this week and provided legal and mental health resources to undocumented communities.
“These ice attacks left children without parents, homes without income, and terrifying families,” said Salvador Melendez, Mayor of Montebello. “Our city council has taken steps to allocate $100,000 in direct assistance to our community.”
Melendez explained that the funds allocated are heading for some services in the hopes of taking some weight off these families’ shoulders.
“We provide support to those who need food, rent support, utility assistance, mental health, other daily expenses, and legal assistance that is needed,” he said.
The program was created in response to growing concern among residents as Melendez shared that at least four or five ice attacks took place in the city. Montebello is home to over 60,000 people, with over 80% of whom are identified as Hispanic.
Melendez knows four or five attacks in the city where people were taken, but the city said “we were unable to accurately check the number of Montebello residents in detention as the federal government and these ice agents are not working with city officials.”
“We don’t have specific numbers. We’ll find out through video or when residents move forward,” he said.
When asked whether Montebello is a sanctuary city, Melendez emphasized his stance on protecting and supporting the city.
“We are here to protect anyone, regardless of their immigrant status. We have taken steps here to ensure that people feel safe. Our police department is not working with the ice,” he said. “We provide the resources and procedures to ensure that these residents have legal representatives, they can find them, they can help their families and provide all the resources to them.”
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