Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday that illegal migrants residing in the city will receive cash assistance through prepaid cards, even as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues federal enforcement actions across California.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Bass stated that the financial assistance will come in the form of “a couple hundred” dollars on cash cards.
The mayor clarified that the funds would not come from city taxpayers, but rather from unnamed philanthropic organizations.
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“The money will not come from city coffers but from philanthropic partners,” Bass said, according to the Times.
Just IN 🚨: LA Mayor Bass announces ‘cash assistance’ program to immigrant families affected by ICE raids. The idea is to begin handing out ‘cash’ debit cards families by next week.
She mentioned the program would be funded via ‘philanthropists’, not city taxpayer money. -LAT pic.twitter.com/usgpkkJLNo
— Anthony (@AnthonyCabassa_) July 11, 2025
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The prepaid cards are expected to be distributed within the next week through immigrant advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), the outlet reported.
The mayor’s office stated that the city will play a coordination role between private donors and the groups distributing the funds.
“The city will coordinate between philanthropists and organizations distributing the cards, according to the mayor’s office,” the Times reported.
Bass said that the purpose of the effort is to assist illegal migrants who are fearful of leaving their homes or going to work due to ongoing ICE operations.
“There are individuals who don’t want to leave their homes,” Bass said.
“They’re not going to work.”
The announcement was made during a press conference in which Bass also signed an executive order reinforcing the city’s sanctuary policies.
I think LA Mayor Karen Bass is squarely in FA territory … just my opinion! 🤨 https://t.co/O5ni6CqwPf
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) July 12, 2025
According to the Los Angeles Times, the order directs all city departments to “bolster protocols” and enhance training to ensure compliance with Los Angeles’s existing sanctuary laws.
The mayor’s executive action follows recent immigration enforcement operations across the state, including high-profile ICE raids at cannabis facilities in Ventura County.
In response, Bass has expressed opposition to federal immigration enforcement in the city and signaled that Los Angeles will not cooperate with such efforts.
On July 8, Bass announced that the city would be joining a private class action civil lawsuit challenging ICE’s recent activity in the region.
🚨BREAKING: Disgraceful Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announces class-action lawsuit against DHS Kristi Noem over alleged unlawful raids in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/tt87UARTa6
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) July 9, 2025
That legal move targets enforcement actions undertaken by federal immigration authorities under the direction of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The city has not disclosed how many individuals will receive cash cards, nor has it provided the names of the philanthropic donors involved in funding the program.
It also remains unclear what criteria, if any, will determine eligibility for the prepaid card distribution.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, one of the groups expected to distribute the funds, has been a prominent advocate for sanctuary policies and previously opposed ICE operations in Southern California.
The executive order and financial aid announcement come as tensions continue to rise between local governments and federal immigration agencies over jurisdiction, cooperation, and policy enforcement.