Faith Leaders Fund Legal Aid As City Cuts Support

More than 120 donors across the Presbytery of San Jose have raised $15,000 for immigration legal aid as San Jose considers cutting its own support for similar services in half. The money is being directed to Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment in Santa Clara County and the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, according to the Presbytery and Local News Matters. The fundraising comes as advocates say immigrant families in Santa Clara County remain at risk of detention and deportation and need lawyers, hotline support and rapid-response help. San Jose’s proposed 2026-27 budget would allocate $500,000 for immigrant legal defense services and education, down from $1 million last year, according to San José Spotlight. ### Who raised the money, and where is it going? The Presbytery of San Jose said on May 28 that its Legal Aid Initiative had raised more than $30,000 in total, including a $15,000 matching commitment, to support immigrant families facing immigration proceedings. The church body said the matching funds were split evenly, with $7,500 pledged for Amigos de Guadalupe and $7,500 for the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County. (localnewsmatters.org) Local News Matters reported on May 31 that more than 120 donors across the Presbytery were giving $15,000 to local immigration advocacy groups. That report said the Santa Clara County share would support Amigos de Guadalupe’s legal aid work and rapid-response services for people facing deportation. (sanjosepby.org) ### Why does the city budget matter to this effort? San Jose’s proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2026-27 sets aside $500,000 for legal defense services and education for immigrants, half of the $1 million the city allocated last year, San José Spotlight reported on May 13. The city is facing a $50 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, the outlet reported. (localnewsmatters.org) The San Jose City Council approved $1 million for immigrant services in June 2025, and that money went to organizations including Amigos de Guadalupe and the Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, or SIREN, according to San José Spotlight and KQED. KQED reported last year that the city also approved at least $1 million for legal defense services, rapid-response support during immigration raids and financial relief for families after arrests. (sanjosespotlight.com) ### What does Amigos de Guadalupe’s rapid-response network do? Amigos de Guadalupe says the Rapid Response Network in Santa Clara County is a coalition of 10 nonprofit organizations and one directly impacted community group that provides deportation defense and community support. The group says the network offers direct services to people affected by immigration enforcement, including outreach and “Know Your Rights” education, and operates a hotline for reporting immigration enforcement activity. (sanjosespotlight.com) San José Spotlight reported that city funding helped the network hire attorneys to assist people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The outlet said the network also documents ICE activity, dispatches observers during arrests, accompanies people to court appearances and runs a 24/7 hotline. (amigoscenter.com) ### What are advocates and faith leaders saying? Maritza Maldonado, executive director of Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment, told San José Spotlight that the proposed city funding cut would not meet current need. “We still need that $1 million. The threat hasn’t gone away in a year,” Maldonado said. (sanjosespotlight.com) Neal Presa, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of San Jose, said at a May 28 ceremony in Saratoga that faith communities were responding to immigrant families’ fear and uncertainty by backing legal aid and family support, according to the Presbytery’s account of the event. The Presbytery said church members had also accompanied neighbors to hearings and supported families through immigration proceedings. (sanjosespotlight.com) ### When will San Jose decide on the funding cut? San José Spotlight reported that the proposed 2026-27 budget will go through study sessions and public hearings before a June 9 City Council vote. The City of San José’s budget pages list 2026-27 budget documents and council deliberation materials for the current cycle. (sanjosepby.org) The next concrete milestone is June 9, when the San Jose City Council is expected to vote on the 2026-27 budget, including the proposed $500,000 allocation for immigrant legal defense services and education. (sanjosespotlight.com)