A department within Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s (D-CA) administration has drafted a proposal to help illegal immigrants in California who are arrested in President-elect Donald Trump’s forthcoming mass deportation operation, according to a new report.
A fact sheet of the proposal, titled, Immigrant Support Network Concept, states that the California Department of Social Services would create centers across state regions to put “at-risk individuals, their families, and communities” in contact with legal service organizations, labor union representatives, and local government officials, according to a copy obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
“While there is a robust network of immigrant-serving organizations and other community supports, there is no centralized coordination mechanism, which limits the ability of providers to effectively leverage available resources; share critical information and expertise; and identify (and adopt) best practices,” the fact sheet states.
The revelation of the proposal comes after Newsom requested $25 million from the state legislature for legal fights against the second Trump administration.
The governor’s office said in a statement to the Washington Examiner Monday that it had not reviewed the document at the center of the debate because it was a DSS matter outside of its purview.
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, the department stressed that the document was not a final proposal.
“This document is an internal and deliberative draft document meant for internal discussions as part of a number of possible considerations given the incoming federal administration’s public remarks. It is not a final proposal,” a spokesperson said.
Still, the proposed DSS plan would seek to fund nonprofit groups across communities as they reach out to people with messaging and provide legal services to immigrants or their family members.
The state has yet to determine which area of the state would see the greatest influx of resources and when to roll out the regional hubs. Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, have vowed to begin deportations on Day One, Jan. 20, leaving just three weeks until the chaos could begin to unfold nationwide.
Trump and his vice president-elect, J.D. Vance, have touted plans to begin by arresting the 700,000 illegal immigrants in the country who have a criminal record, as well as the 1.4 million who a federal immigration judge has already ordered be deported, but federal immigration officials have not physically removed that person to date.
Although people arrested in the United States for non-immigration offenses have the right to a free attorney, known as a public defender, immigrants are not granted a lawyer and must pay for one themselves if they wish to get legal counsel.
But some are worried that the state effort does not go far enough to help illegal immigrants.
A proposal by Senate Budget Chairman, Democrat Scott Wiener, would make $60 million available to help immigrants and other vulnerable populations and create a program to ensure each person has a lawyer representing them before a judge.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Democratic state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez said in a statement to the LA Times that the Senate version was worked out with help from organizations and immigrant rights groups.
“As we brace for the threat of mass raids and deportations, the Senate will remain steadfast in ensuring the safety and well-being of all Californians,” Perez said. “Our strategy focuses on defending the human rights of California’s diverse communities and ensuring our residents will receive the resources they need to thrive, no matter their background.”