The Central American Resource Center, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, and Immigrant Defenders Law Center Move to Intervene in Case Against Trump Administration
LOS ANGELES, APRIL 14, 2025—In an effort to protect Los Angeles-based immigrant families from mass immigration enforcement, Public Counsel and Hecker Fink LLP have filed a motion on behalf of Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), and Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) seeking to intervene on the Trump Administration’s attack on sanctuary cities.
One of President Donald Trump’s first acts in his second term in office was to issue an executive order threatening to withhold federal funding from and to bring increased enforcement against sanctuary cities, which have policies limiting the use of local law enforcement and other government resources to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement. San Francisco and a number of cities and other local governments banded together to challenge this executive order in court. The coalition of immigrants’ rights organizations is seeking to join the suit to ensure that their interests and the interests of Los Angeles’s immigrant communities are represented in the action.
“California has worked hard for decades to embrace immigrants and set up policies and programs to ensure that all of us thrive and prosper,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director of CHIRLA. “This is sound public policy as immigrants make up a large portion of the workforce in the state. And, it is also the right thing to do as every Californian, regardless of where we come from, is part of enriching our communities, neighborhoods, and institutions, deeply rooted throughout the state.”
When local law enforcement cooperates with federal immigration authorities like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), immigrants become afraid to report crimes, serve as witnesses, or call the police about other emergencies. The city becomes less safe for everyone. Similarly, if immigrants fear officials or employees at local hospitals will report them to federal immigration authorities, they’re less likely to seek medical assistance, get their children vaccinated, or be treated for highly infectious diseases. These decisions put the health of the entire community at risk.
“Sanctuary cities are choosing welcome and inclusion over fear and division. The people of Los Angeles understand the valuable contributions of their immigrant residents and recognize the humanity inherent in all people,” said Alvaro M. Huerta, Director of Litigation and Advocacy at ImmDef. “The current administration’s spiteful attempts to cut funding from sanctuary cities are not only unlawful, they also go against our values as Angelenos and Americans.”
Cities and other local governments throughout the United States have adopted sanctuary policies, reassuring their communities that city services are accessible and limiting their agencies’ and employees’ involvement with federal immigration authorities to what is legally required.
“The concept of sanctuary and the protection of families and children are part of the foundation of who we are as a community and a country,” said Martha Arevalo, CARECEN Executive Director. “Our organizations and the City of Los Angeles have chosen to prioritize inclusion and justice as guiding principles that foster unity and a sense of community. We will continue to fight for the rights of immigrant families and to ensure sanctuary cities have the resources necessary to protect the most vulnerable.”
President Trump’s executive order goes further than directing federal agencies to cut funding to sanctuary cities and other governments. Los Angeles is a vibrant and diverse city. With one-third of the residents of Los Angeles being foreign-born, the draconian threats of the order could have sweeping consequences for local businesses, nonprofits and families.
“The Trump Administration’s undemocratic attack on sanctuary communities is not only unconstitutional, it is dangerous public policy that harms innocent children by interfering in public education and harms public safety by destroying the trust that results in reporting crimes,” said Gina Amato Lough, Directing Attorney of Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “Los Angeles strongly believes that its public employees are not agents of the federal government. Our filing on behalf of community organizations who support sanctuary status is for all Angelenos who want to keep ICE in its lane and reject the Trump Administration’s policies of bullying and intimidation.”
The case is San Francisco v. Trump. CARECEN, CHIRLA, and ImmDef are represented by Public Counsel and Hecker Fink LLP.
Read the filings here:
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CARECEN
Founded in 1983, the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) is the largest Central American immigrant rights organization in the country. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CARECEN empowers Central Americans and all immigrants by defending human and civil rights, working for social and economic justice, and promoting cultural diversity. The organization envisions Los Angeles becoming a place where Central Americans and all other communities live in peace and dignity, enjoying economic well-being, social justice, and political empowerment.
CHIRLA
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) was founded in 1986. CHIRLA is a California leader with national impact made of diverse immigrant families and individuals who act as agents of social change to achieve a world with freedom of mobility, full human rights, and true participatory democracy. CHIRLA’s mission is to achieve a just society fully inclusive of immigrants.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center
The Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) is a next-generation social justice law firm that defends immigrant communities against injustices in the immigration system. Our programs are a first step towards realizing the long-term goal of providing universal representation to all immigrants facing deportation. ImmDef is now the largest non‐profit, pro bono provider of deportation defense in California, with offices in Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Ana, and San Diego.
Public Counsel
Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.
