Facing mounting fear over stepped-up federal immigration enforcement, an El Monte city panel has secured a fresh batch of cash to help local families lawyer up and stay afloat.
The city's immigration ad hoc committee said Friday that Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis' office has pledged $52,000 to bolster a local immigrant defense fund. The new money joins roughly $25,000 the committee had already raised and is intended to pay for legal help and wraparound services for families rattled by recent federal activity. City Manager Alma Martinez said the city appreciates Supervisor Solis' office for working with El Monte to lock in additional funding to expand support for families across the community.
The ad hoc committee, made up of Councilmembers Martin Herrera and Cindy Gálvan and Mayor Pro Tem Viviana Longoria, has been racing to pull together private and public dollars as residents report increasing enforcement in the area. As reported by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Solis' office committed $52,000 to the city's immigration defense pool, on top of the roughly $25,000 already raised. "El Monte is my hometown," Solis told the paper, framing the county's support as part of a broader push to protect residents.
What the money will pay for
Committee members say the dollars will be folded into a local defense fund meant to expand access to removal-defense counsel, emergency cash aid, and other critical supports. The contribution lines up with countywide measures, including a "Know Your Rights" youth campaign and a cash-aid program for workers that Solis' office has put forward in response to recent enforcement surges. According to Hilda L. Solis' office, the county has directed resources to community legal providers and rapid-response outreach since enforcement actions began in June 2025.
Background: raids and prior aid
The announcement lands after months of heightened concern, with federal operations in the region leaving some families afraid to leave home. In June 2025, Solis donated $100,000 to launch "El Monte Cares," a local program for food distribution and legal aid, as reported by ABC7. City leaders say the latest commitment is meant to top up that work and help ensure legal services are available where they are most needed.
Council schedule and next steps
The Immigration Ad Hoc Committee presented its report during recent council meetings, and the City Council has adjourned the March session for follow-up meetings on Monday and Wednesday to consider next steps, according to the City of El Monte. Officials say staff will coordinate with nonprofit legal partners to deploy funds quickly and will return to the council with proposed allocations. The panel is still seeking additional outside resources to stretch the money further.
Legal implications
City officials and advocates emphasize that the funding is intended for representation and immediate needs rather than long-term litigation. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that Solis' office has filed amicus briefs opposing certain federal enforcement policies and that county leaders have been channeling money to legal-defense programs. Local advocates say emergency cash and legal counsel can be decisive for families facing detention or removal, but that sustained funding is required to maintain ongoing representation.
The ad hoc panel says it will keep pursuing outside support and will coordinate with county and nonprofit partners to get funds into the community as fast as possible. City leaders expect to update residents and the council as allocations are finalized.
