Statement by Supervisor Kathryn Barger Regarding Additional Funding for Illegal Immigration Defense

LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Today, the Board of Supervisors voted to extend an agreement with the California Community Foundation to provide legal defense for illegal immigrants facing deportation at a cost of approximately $1.5 million, which Supervisor Kathryn Barger opposed.

“I empathize with the plight of the thousands of individuals who are impacted by the broken immigration system. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to support states and counties in their efforts to address the costs of illegal immigration, and we should focus our energy on supporting comprehensive immigration reform at the national level. Furthermore, given the enormous financial constraints placed upon the County by the COVID-19 public health crisis, now more than ever we must be fiscally responsible to our taxpayers.”