As federal immigration enforcement activity continues in Long Beach and across the country, local advocacy groups and community members came together this week to demand officials take action to better protect immigrant communities in the city.
The Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition, a group made up of local immigration rights and community organizations, held a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, in the Civic Center Plaza to demand city leaders strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million into the Long Beach Justice Fund.
Representatives from the coalition said they had been working with the city since January to strengthen local protections for Long Beach’s immigrant community. But there has yet to be a set date for the City Council to adopt policies recommended by the group, said Fernando Acevedo, a community lawyer at Órale.
“Now, the message from the city is that city staff behind the scenes who were working on this are shifting their focus to the budget and they don’t have capacity for the Values Act demands that we have been pushing for since January,” Acevedo said during the press conference. “While our city government postpones this vote further, the federal government is continuing to violently target our immigrant community and we see billions of dollars funding this deportation machine.”
While the coalition and community members say they understand that the city is facing a difficult budget year, they still plan to advocate for and ensure their demands are met to strengthen policies in the Long Beach Values Act and increase funding for the Long Beach Justice Fund.
The Long Beach Values Act, which the City Council adopted in 2018, establishes procedures for the requesting, collecting, maintaining and disclosing sensitive information and the enforcement of federal immigration law, according to the city’s website. The Long Beach Justice Fund is a legal defense fund and program that provides legal help for low-income immigrants at risk of deportation who live or work in the city.
Despite cuts in the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, there is a $1 million allocation for the Justice Fund to ensure residents have access to legal representation and resources necessary to safeguard their constitutional rights, uphold due process protections, and preserve family unity, according to Mayor Rex Richardson’s recommendations.
Angela, a 20-year resident of Long Beach, spoke about her experience as an immigrant during the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Civic Center Plaza. The Long Beach advocacy groups and community members urged city leaders to strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million in the Long Beach Justice Fund. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition held a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Civic Center Plaza demanding city leaders strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million in the Long Beach Justice Fund. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Sheyla Diaz, senior community organizer for Long Beach for a Just Economy, at the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Civic Center Plaza. The Long Beach advocacy groups and community members urged city leaders to strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million in the Long Beach Justice Fund. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Sayon Syprasoeuth, program manager for the United Cambodian Community, at the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Civic Center Plaza. The Long Beach advocacy groups and community members urged city leaders to strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million in the Long Beach Justice Fund. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition held a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Civic Center Plaza demanding city leaders strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million in the Long Beach Justice Fund. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition held a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Civic Center Plaza demanding city leaders strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million in the Long Beach Justice Fund. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Angela, a 20-year resident of Long Beach, spoke about her experience as an immigrant during the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Civic Center Plaza. The Long Beach advocacy groups and community members urged city leaders to strengthen the Long Beach Values Act and invest $3 million in the Long Beach Justice Fund. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A budget deficit, advocates said, should not mean fewer protections for Long Beach’s immigrant community.
“Our demands are not monetary; our demands are protections,” Sheyla Diaz, senior community organizer with Long Beach for a Just Economy, said during the press conference. “When communities live in fear, it is the responsibility of our local governments to do everything they can in their power to protect their constituents regardless of documentation status. Long Beach City Council, your community urges you to stand up and fight for them.”
During the press conference, the group – which included members of Órale, Long Beach for a Just Economy, United Cambodian Community, Filipino Migrant Center, Khmer Girls in Action, Long Beach Tenants Union, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, National Immigration Project, and community members – shared their demands to strengthen the Values Act.
Those demands include:
Eliminating state Senate Bill 54 exceptions that allow local law enforcement to assist in immigrant enforcement to ensure the city does not share the information of any resident with federal immigration authorities or transfer community members to ICE detention centers.
Banning local use of automated license plate readers and facial recognition technology.
Strengthening city contracts to respond to Long Beach Values Act violations, such as termination clauses for violations, assessing penalties to the vendor and disqualifying the vendor from future city contract opportunities.
A private right of action to ensure the Values Act has teeth.
Clarifying Long Beach’s prohibition on using public city property for immigration enforcement staging and stronger signage on its spaces to indicate a stronger stance against federal immigration enforcement.
A policy ensuring that no Long Beach peace officers, including from the Long Beach Police Department, work for or volunteer for the Department of Homeland Security or its contractors, or any other entity that assists with or engages in immigration enforcement.
The city has taken steps to strengthen its Values Act since its first adoption. Last year, for example, the City Council voted to strengthen and affirm Long Beach’s commitment to the local policy.
The first part of the motion requested that each separate appointing authority within the city formally commit to the Values Act via a letter to the City Council, and that staff send the same request to certain external partner agencies, according to the city’s website. The action also included adding the city’s data privacy guidelines into standard contractual language, expanding funding for defense support through the Justice Fund, and developing informational materials and resources to educate community members on their rights and protections.
In August, the council expanded those protections further, limiting law enforcement access to city facilities, strengthening staff training and accountability, ensuring data protection in vendor and contractor agreements, and supporting legal advocacy and know-your-rights education. In February, the City Council adopted a resolution calling for federal immigration accountability, including support for removing former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and an end to enforcement operations that put local communities at risk.
Long Beach remains committed to the Long Beach Values Act, according to a Wednesday statement, which reaffirms the city’s dedication to serving all residents regardless of immigration status.
On Tuesday, the city issued a memo with a comprehensive update, outlining its continued efforts to uphold and strengthen the Values Act through new protocol developments, operational changes, staff training and legislative advocacy, as well as through outreach, services and resources for the community. Staff will continue to conduct this work while considering new opportunities for furthering these actions alongside council direction and support, according to the city statement.
In the coming weeks, the city said, Long Beach will release a Justice Fund Impact Report, highlighting its continued implementation, as well as services, key outcomes, budget information and program accomplishments.
Advocates said they appreciated the support they have received so far from council offices, including the mayor and vice mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga, but the reality is that many immigrant individuals and families continue to live in fear.
Other speakers during the press conference included Shiu-Ming Cheer, California Immigrant Policy Center’s deputy director of Immigrant & Racial Justice, and Sayon Syprasoeuth, program manager for United Cambodian Community.
“Today, we come together to call on our community, city leaders and our state leaders to stand with immigrant and refugee families,” Syprasoeuth said. “In this moment, solidarity is more important than ever. Together, we can build a community where families feel safe, supported and valued, and where our community continues to thrive because no one should be left behind.
“We are stronger together,” Syprasoeuth added. “We want to emphasize the importance of the Long Beach Values Act to protect our immigrant community. We want to demand $3 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund to serve our community and the people of Long Beach.”
During last year’s budget process, the coalition asked the city for $2.2 million for the Justice Fund. The group asked for more this year to provide timely and holistic support to local families. Without it, the city’s contracted legal service provider, the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, will only be able to support a limited number of families’ cases, and many will be left without the help they need, advocates said.
Since 2016, the immigrant rights organization Órale has advocated for the city to create and fund this free legal representation for residents. Organizers said they will continue advocating for more money for the program, as it is a vital tool for helping families fight deportation cases and remain together.
“We’re hopeful, obviously, when you’re in a budget deficit, it’s harder, but for us, it’s important to continue pushing to get as many dollars as we can for the Justice Fund,” Acevedo said in an interview. “It’s about expanding how many funds that we can, because that directly contributes to how many more families can get the legal support that they need.
“Also, we know that federal immigration enforcement is getting billions,” Acevedo added. “It’s not if enforcement happens in Long Beach, it’s when. We need to be proactive and we need to be as prepared as possible and have the most robust fund that we can have. For us, that means pushing for as many dollars as we can for the Justice Fund.”
In the Wednesday statement, the city said it values the work being done by the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition and other local advocacy and community groups. Many coalition members also make up the Justice Fund Oversight Committee, which includes representatives from Órale, Filipino Migrant Center, United Cambodian Community of Long Beach and community members, and which provides guidance and oversight recommendations related to the Justice Fund.
The city meets with the committee monthly to promote collaboration and transparency, provide program and budget updates, and strategize around emerging challenges, according to the statement.
“The city acknowledges the coalition’s concerns and will continue to consistently engage with them, other local groups and the community in our continued commitment to upholding and strengthening the Values Act alongside City Council direction and support,” the city statement said. “Long Beach stands with its immigrant community. It is estimated that Long Beach has over 100,000 immigrants of all different backgrounds and statuses, all of whom help make Long Beach the vibrant, diverse city it is. We encourage residents to learn more about their rights and get connected to resources by visiting the City’s Immigration Information and Resources webpage.”