Oakland, Alameda County, Foundation Step Up to Fight Deportation

On February 17th, the East Bay Times reported on Vice Mayor Annie Campbell-Washington’s proposal to dedicate funding to a rapid response network for “families facing the immediate threat of separation due to deportation,” which was endorsed unanimously by the Oakland City Council. In addition to $150,000 for this fiscal year and $150,000 more for next year that the council approved, the San Francisco Foundation pledged matching funds of up to $750,000, and Alameda County subsequently allocated another $750,000. The funds will support efforts of a coalition that includes Centro Legal de la Raza, the county’s office of the public defender, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, Causa Justa and Catholic Charities of the East Bay.