![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_7691-copy.jpg\")
The National Guard stand in front of Anti-ICE protesters in front of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building in Santa Ana on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA, Voice of OC<\/p>\nAnaheim families struggling to navigate the immigration system after a loved one gets detained by federal agents could soon have an easier time getting connected with an immigration attorney.<\/p>\n
City officials are looking to partner with a nonprofit immigration law center that could see a hotline and a rapid referral program to help get people connected to a lawyer within 24 hours after someone gets detained by ICE agents \u2013 a timeframe that\u2019s considered critical.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThose first 24 to 72 hours can be everything. That\u2019s when the decisions get made that shape everything that happens after that,\u201d Councilman Carlos Leon said during Tuesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
Leon, who spearheaded the proposal, recounted a story of a local family.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s early morning, a father leaves for work \u2013 a person that\u2019s holding everything together for their family. And they don\u2019t come home,\u201d Leon said. \u201cNow this family\u2019s trying to figure out what to do next. The kids still need to eat, the bills are still due.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat family is real \u2013 I know because I took that call,\u201d he added. \u201cI also knew that in that moment I wasn\u2019t going to be able to refer her to someone with the legal expertise \u2026 that\u2019s a gap that I hope we\u2019re able to close tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
City staff are expected to get some proposed agreements with local nonprofit immigration law clinics for up to $100,000 \u2013 eventually coming back to the city council for approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It comes eight months after ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents began widespread deportation sweeps throughout Southern California, which led to a series of protests throughout Orange County and its neighbors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The National Guard stand in front of Anti-ICE protesters in front of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building in Santa Ana on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA, Voice of OC<\/p>\n
The deportation sweeps also spurred cities like Anaheim, Costa Mesa and Santa Ana to create relief funds for families impacted by the ICE raids.<\/p>\n
While Costa Mesa and Santa Ana have legal assistance as part of their programs, Anaheim doesn\u2019t \u2013 yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Struggling to Navigate Immigration Law<\/p>\n
At Tuesday\u2019s meeting, Anaheim city spokesman Mike Lyster said a legal aid fund and referral program is a critical addition to the city\u2019s existing efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have gone out and worked directly with families and provided them with the best guidance we can provide,\u201d Lyster told city council members. \u201cMost families we approach, they have a shell-shocked look. They have no idea what to do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lyster and his communications team post daily updates on the city\u2019s immigration resources website \u2013 Anaheim Contigo<\/a> \u2013 which details where ICE raids have happened, along with information about people\u2019s rights and the city\u2019s response to the deportation sweeps.\u00a0<\/p>\n Like Councilman Leon, he said locating a detained loved one and getting them legal resources is key within the first 24 to 48 hours of detention.<\/p>\n \u201cThose are critical hours where families are frankly struggling to figure out what has happened, where their loved one is and what to do next,\u201d Lyster said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Acting City Manager Greg Garcia said officials recognized that a legal aid program was sorely needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s providing immediate access to legal consultation,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cMaking sure that we allow an opportunity for those who are detained to connect with a staff attorney.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite her college degree, Councilwoman Norma Campos Kurtz said she wouldn\u2019t know what to do if she or a loved one got caught up in a deportation sweep.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t know where to go. I can only imagine what our residents are feeling \u2013 the fear they have of not knowing what to do,\u201d Kurtz said.\u00a0<\/p>\n City council members voted unanimously to begin the process of creating a legal aid program for residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n Avoiding Scams\u00a0<\/p>\n Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said contracting with a professional will help families impacted by the ICE raids.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHaving somebody under contract that we can direct people to to get the truth .. is really important.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Councilwoman Natalie Meeks said the program can help residents avoid getting scammed by people preying on families trying to navigate the immigration system.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy to help people to find that path and avoid those things \u2026 being exploited by people who are trying to profit from this situation,\u201d Meeks said. \u201cWe can refer them to the right people to help them with their legal process longterm.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava said an education component can also help people avoid getting scammed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think educating them on who to trust, what a scam looks like \u2013 would be essential,\u201d Rubalcava said, adding that she\u2019s seen some people become notaries looking to make money off the legal process, despite not knowing the immigration system.\u00a0<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken\u2019s father, Wylie Aitken, chairs Voice of OC\u2019s board of directors.<\/p>\n Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t