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As immigrant raids continue to wipe out car washes and car parks at Home Depot, spreading fear across 77% of Latino communities, the city has created a $100,000 fund to help affected families cover basic essentials such as food, rentals and utilities.
The emergency fund was proposed by Mayor Valerie Amesqua. He said the city is in crisis due to its ongoing immigration and customs enforcement operations. Sahayo, the sister city of Santa Ana in Michoacan, Mexico, has provided an additional $50,000 gift to support the initiative, she said.
“This is about the needs of our community,” Amezcua said at a city council meeting Tuesday. “If the father or mother, the earner, is being taken from their home, we don’t want them to lose their residence.”
The proposal marks a sharp shift for the mayor facing a call to step down from her silence at the beginning of President Trump’s immigration crackdown in Southern California in early June. At a city council meeting last week, more than 100 frustrated residents were flooded during public comment periods, with many winning numerous Lambs Amecquas for responding to immigrant raids and related protests, criticizing the use of force against demonstrators at the Santa Ana Police Station.
Amezcua originally proposed on July 4th to create a $1 million aid program by canceling events sponsored by eight cities: the Chicano Heritage Festival, Fiestas Patrias, Noche de Altares, Tet Festival, Santa Ana Fun Run, Summer Movie Series and Junetteenth.
“We’ve had big events in other cities and ice is appearing. The military is going through the park and bringing families around,” she said. “I don’t want to have a big event where they can come and harm or take our family.”
However, several councillors opposed the idea and say it’s important to continue celebrating the culture of the community, pointing out that many of these events are months away when the ice may not be as active.
“We don’t support reimbursing cultural events in Orange County’s brownest city. “We should do both.”
Hernandez pointed out that Santa Anna is the only city in the country to host Chicano Heritage Festival, celebrating the contributions of pioneering journalist Reuben Salazar and the only city to host the Fiesta Patria to celebrate Mexico’s independence in Southern California. “I don’t think it’s the right thing to do to refund these events.”
The council then set out to a heated hour-long discussion about where to draw money to create funds.
Hernandez suggested using the money allocated to vacant positions at the Santa Ana Police Station. However, Amezcua recklessly called out his suggestion and pushed him back. Councillor David Penalza then proposed stealing $1 million from the city’s rainy day fund, but city staff explained that the process to withdraw the reserve requires additional meetings and votes.
Ultimately, the council settled on a compromise, pulling 10% of the funds from the city-sponsored event and quickly running an emergency fund of $100,000. Councillor Sie Viet Fan, who came up with the allegations, added that within 90 days, the proposal should be reported earlier to increase the fund’s effectiveness and budget.
During public comment period, many residents spoke about the continued inflict on the Santa Ana community about the pain and trauma ice attacks.
“We have operations at our local car washes, our local Home Depot. Our vendors are being taken away. There’s a lot going on all the time. Our team has never seen this type of pain and suffering from Santa Ana residents.”
De Anda said he conservatively estimated that between 20 and 30 people were in custody for a day. “I work with a very dedicated team of ice watchers, dispatchers, lawyers and clergy members so I can say you with confidence. Most of us are volunteers,” she said.
Maria Seja, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, wrote a letter in support of the fund, calling for the city to create a dignified, accessible process for families to receive assistance.
“It is utmost important for the city to provide financial support as families navigate their lives after their loved ones are taken illegally without warning,” she writes. “We see many of our tempted neighbors as the main family’s earners, which completely unstable, especially given the current state of our economy, as prices continue to rise while wages are stagnant.”
The Santa Ana Foundation follows in the footsteps of nearby Anaheim, which created the Anaheim Contigo website last month, providing resources to families affected by immigration enforcement, and provides emergency assistance grants through a partnership with the Anaheim Community Foundation.
During the meeting, council members approved an motion to file a Freedom of Information Act request for records regarding recent ice operations in Santa Ana, as well as a resolution calling on council members representing Orange County to advocate for the removal of immigration agents and the city of National Guard.
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