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Becerra, Alexis From: Sandra De Anda <sandra@ocrapidresponse.org> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 3:58 PM To: eComment Cc: Kelsey Gordon; Karen G. Hernandez; Casey Conway; Ana Ramirez; Carlo Andre Chunga Pizarro; Sabina Martinez Subject: 2026-2027 Budget Recommendation - Expand Santa Ana Legal Defense Fund -Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. June 16, 2026 Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Dear Mayor Amezcua and Members of the City Council, On behalf of the Orange County Rapid Response Network,we write to express our support for expanding the Santa Ana Legal Defense Fund in the City's 2026-2027 budget. Specifically,we urge the City Council to consider increasing the fund's allocation by at least$100,000. Our request is driven by the significant and growing need for immigration legal services in Santa Ana. We continue to see long wait times for residents seeking legal consultations, case reviews, and representation. This is not a reflection of the work being done by the Immigrant Defenders Law Center,which has been a dedicated and effective legal service provider. Rather, it reflects a funding level that has not kept pace with the actual needs of Santa Ana's immigrant community. Our organization has helped expand legal defense funding in several jurisdictions throughout Orange County, including Anaheim,Buena Park, Costa Mesa,Irvine, and at the County level. What distinguishes many of these programs is their ability to respond quickly and provide timely legal representation to residents facing immigration proceedings. In Santa Ana,however, demand continues to outpace available resources. Santa Ana remains one of the communities most impacted by immigration enforcement due to the presence of the ICE Field Office,the legacy of immigration enforcement activities associated with the Santa Ana Immigration Court, and the city's large and vibrant immigrant and refugee population. Simply put,the need for legal defense services exceeds the City's current fiscal investment. We respectfully ask the City to invest an additional$100,000 in the Santa Ana Legal Defense Fund. This investment would help ensure that more residents receive timely legal assistance,remain with their families, and continue contributing to the community they call home. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to supporting Santa Ana's residents. Best, i