SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rapid response networks and immigrant rights organizations across California called on Gov. Gavin Newsom and other elected officials Tuesday to provide emergency financial assistance, strengthen protections and improve government accountability amid increased federal immigration enforcement operations.
In an Oct. 27 joint statement, the POWER Not Panic Emergency Action Committee criticized what it described as the state’s failure to establish a coordinated response to immigration enforcement activities affecting communities throughout California.
The statement was issued by organizations representing Sacramento, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, the Central Coast and the Central Valley.
According to the committee, increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have created widespread fear and uncertainty among immigrant communities, disrupting daily activities such as attending school, traveling to work and accessing public spaces.
The committee also raised concerns about the timing of federal immigration operations ahead of the November elections, arguing that heightened enforcement could discourage political participation and affect voter turnout in impacted communities.
Volunteers, legal service providers, faith leaders and grassroots organizers have responded by verifying reported ICE activity, distributing information about legal rights, assisting families affected by detention and connecting residents with emergency resources.
However, the committee argued that these community-based efforts have not been matched by adequate statewide protections or coordinated emergency response measures.
Immigrant rights organizations have spent years preparing for increased federal enforcement through volunteer training, local response systems and community outreach, according to the statement.
The organizations maintained that elected officials had been warned about the need for coordinated emergency protocols but had failed to establish a sufficient statewide strategy.
The committee said families affected by immigration enforcement face financial instability, including lost income, separation from parents and difficulties maintaining housing, obtaining basic necessities and securing child care.
Its first demand called on state officials to provide immediate financial assistance to affected families through discretionary funds distributed by trusted community organizations.
The committee urged the Newsom administration to prioritize direct assistance rather than focusing primarily on public opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The statement also called for expanded access to information about legal rights, emergency assistance and community support services through coordinated state communication efforts.
Because many affected residents do not primarily speak English, the organizations emphasized the need for accessible, multilingual information to ensure families understand their rights and available resources.
At the local level, the committee urged city councils and county boards of supervisors to strengthen protections, establish clear emergency response protocols and provide additional resources to organizations assisting people affected by immigration enforcement.
The organizations also directed demands toward California’s congressional delegation, calling for stronger federal oversight, greater transparency, public accountability and continued review of immigration enforcement practices.
The committee argued that public statements condemning federal immigration operations are insufficient without direct government intervention and tangible assistance for affected communities.
Organizations supporting the statement include California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, Immigrant Legal Defense, NorCal Resist and multiple county rapid response networks.
The coalition said it would continue coordinating community responses, distributing reliable information and assisting families facing hardship as a result of federal immigration enforcement.
Its demands place renewed pressure on California officials to move beyond public opposition to federal immigration policies and establish coordinated systems of financial, legal and emergency assistance for affected communities.
