A proposal by Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias to approve $1 million in taxpayer funding to re-establish an immigrant legal defense fund passed at Thursday’s meeting.

The approval comes amid increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps in Fresno and other San Joaquin Valley communities.

“Today, the city council approved my proposal to reestablish the Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, an important step toward protecting our residents, defending due process, and standing up against the Trump administration’s abusive immigration enforcement practices,” Arias said in a news release.

“Today’s action sends a clear message: Fresno will not turn its back on immigrant families facing fear, intimidation, or potential violations of their constitutional rights. We have fought to protect our city’s resources. Now, we are committing resources to protect our residents.”

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Proposal Passes on 5-1 Vote

The funding action passed on a 5-1 vote. Councilmember Nick Richardson opposed the measure, and councilmember Tyler Maxwell was absent for the vote.

Arias also noted that the city has successfully fought several Trump administration decrees that attempted to strip Fresno of federal funding.

“If we can take the federal government to court to protect our city’s funding, we can and must provide our residents with the resources to defend themselves in court when their fundamental constitutional rights are at stake,” he said.

Regarding the Trump administration’s increased ICE presence in Fresno, Arias said: “No president, federal agency, or immigration enforcement officer is above the law. Due process is not a privilege reserved for a select few; it is a fundamental constitutional protection afforded to every person in this country, regardless of immigration status.”

Funding to Come From Unfilled City Positions

Thursday’s action refills the fund created in 2022, backed by then-city councilmember Luis Chavez, now a county supervisor.

The $1 million would come from expected salary savings from unfilled positions in the mid-year budget, Arias said.