A coalition of funders is calling on state lawmakers to reject proposed cuts and safeguard essential safety-net programs for immigrant communities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Press Office, California Community Foundation
press [@] calfund [.] org
Los Angeles, CA — As California’s legislative leaders are finalizing our state budget, and as we commemorate Immigrant Heritage Month, a coalition of philanthropic organizations are urging policymakers to uphold key programs benefiting immigrants in this year’s proposal. In a letter submitted to lawmakers this week, the coalition expressed deep concern about the negative impact the May revision would have on immigrant communities and emphasized the importance of preserving critical programs that protect the wellbeing of all Californians, regardless of immigration status.
“It is imperative that we maintain our steadfast dedication to equity and inclusion for our most vulnerable Californians,” said Miguel Santana, President & CEO of the California Community Foundation. “These programs aren’t merely line items in a budget; they are lifelines for millions of immigrant neighbors and their families.”
In their letter addressed to Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, Pro Tem McGuire, Assemblymember Gabriel, and Senator Wiener, the coalition underscored the significant progress made in immigrant inclusion under the state’s leadership over the past decade. They highlighted initiatives such as the expansion of Medi-Cal to undocumented Californians and the California Food Assistance Program, which have been crucial in addressing the needs of immigrant communities.
The coalition also emphasized how the progress made over the last decade is jeopardized by the detrimental effects of the proposed cuts and delays to essential programs outlined in the May revision. These include reductions in funding for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) benefits, California State University Immigration Legal Services, the Rapid Response Fund, and delays in the expansion of the California Food Assistance Program. Such measures, if implemented, could harm the health, legal protections, and food security of millions of immigrant Californians.
The coalition is calling on legislative leaders to prioritize justice, equity, and full inclusion for all Californians in the budget decision-making process. They are emphasizing the importance of inclusive investments and bold protections to prevent widening inequality and ensure the long-term resiliency of the state.
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Full text of the letter below and posted here:
CCF-Community-Foundations-Letter-to-State-Leadership
June 7, 2024
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker, California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Mike McGuire
Senate President pro Tempore
1021 O Street, Suite 8158
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Jesse Gabriel
Chair, Assembly Budget Committee
1021 O Street, Suite 8230
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Scott Wiener
Chair, Senate Budget Committee
1020 N Street, Room 502
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, Pro Tem McGuire, Assemblymember Gabriel, and Senator Wiener:
We are writing to express our deep concern about the negative impact the May revision will have on immigrants, and restate our support for the state’s continued advancement in public programs that protect the wellbeing of all Californians, regardless of immigration status, including the legislature’s proposal regarding the following core programs in the joint legislative budget proposal:
- Upholding In-home Supportive Services (IHSS) for undocumented Californians;
- Maintaining legal services funding for the Cal State Universities Immigration Legal Services Project and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Immigration Services Program;
- Preserving funding in the state’s Rapid Response Fund; and
- Reappropriating any unspent funds to allow for continued work toward the implementation of the California Food Assistance Program Expansion.
Over the past decade, and under your leadership, we have made substantial strides in immigrant inclusion. Immigrant Rights Groups and the constituents they serve have celebrated the expansion of Medi-Cal to undocumented Californians of all ages and the California Food Assistance Program. In recent years, California has moved to close other gaps in our health, social safety net, and poverty-fighting programs for immigrants that had been previously excluded based on their immigration status. For example, the state permanently expanded the California Earned Income Tax Credit to include tax filers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). During the pandemic, the state made several investments in programs to protect undocumented Californians who were excluded from federal relief, including Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants, the Golden State Grant, and the Golden State Stimulus. These investments are a recognition of a deeply interconnected California, where ending exclusions of undocumented individuals strengthens the families and communities who depend on and love them. Such investments build greater prosperity for the state, now and in the long-term.
As philanthropic institutions that have invested alongside the state in justice, equity, and inclusion of immigrant Californians, we are concerned about the setbacks that would occur as a result of the proposed cuts to Medi-Cal benefits and legal services, and the delay in food assistance to undocumented, older adults. These cuts and delays constitute a small fraction of the overall budget, yet will have a devastating impact on the almost 11 million immigrants who call California home, 22% of whom are undocumented. Undocumented Californians are twice as likely to be living in poverty compared to the state overall, and an estimated 20% of all Californians under the age of 18 live with someone who is undocumented or is undocumented themselves. Protecting the progress that we have made to support undocumented Californians is critical to ensuring that individuals and families are not forced to choose between paying for groceries, rent, or medical care, and are protected from harmful federal policies that further marginalize them.
Specifically, we remain concerned about the proposed cuts for the issues listed below within the May revision, and our capacity to fill the gaps left by these cuts, and the consequences that they will have for immigrant Californians and their families:
- The $94.7 million in proposed budget cuts to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) benefits from the Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented Californians. This proposed cut would take away essential services from about 14,000 Californians, who are over the age of 65 or living with a disability, solely because of their immigration status. Furthermore, these cuts would potentially force these individuals to seek long-term institutionalization, which would likely deem them a public charge and would be vastly more expensive to the state.
- The $15.2 million in proposed budget cuts to the California State University (CSU) Immigration Legal Services Project and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Immigration Services Program. Over 20,000 California youth, students, parents, workers and families have relied on these services to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), citizenship, TPS, and other immigration remedies.
- The absence of $17.8 million reinvestment in the Children Holistic Immigration Representation Project (CHIRP), which has provided free lawyers and social services to over 600 children and teenagers who are seeking refuge and would otherwise face deportation alone since September 2022.
- The $29 million in proposed cuts to the state’s Rapid Response Fund, which has allowed nonprofit and faith-based organizations in San Diego, Imperial, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties to provide medical, shelter, legal, and social services to 500,000 individuals and families seeking humanitarian protection in the U.S. since 2021.
- The proposed delay to expanding the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for all individuals aged 55 years or older, regardless of immigration status. This proposed delay to the CFAP expansion could further exacerbate food insecurity among undocumented Californians, who experience food deprivation at alarmingly and disproportionately high rates.
Under your leadership, California continues to be the 5th largest economy in the world. However, with poverty rising and persistent high levels of inequality, now is the time to hold justice, equity, and full inclusion for all Californians as sacred promises. Even in leaner times, inclusive investments and bold protections are vital to prevent inequality from widening, to build the long-term resiliency of our state, and to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who calls California home.
We thank you for your continued leadership, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can work together to meet the critical needs of our communities.
Sincerely,
Miguel A. Santana, President & Chief Executive Officer
California Community Foundation
Megan Thomas, President & Chief Executive Officer
Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties
Leslie Dorosin, Managing Director
Grove Action Fund
Julián Castro, Chief Executive Officer
Latino Community Foundation
Chris Essel
Philanthropy California
Nicole Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Kaying Hang, President
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation
Eder Gaona-Macedo, Executive Director
The FUND for Santa Barbara
Peter Martin, Executive Director
Tides Foundation