Long Beach has launched an emergency Neighbors Supporting Neighbors fund for the immigrant community, the City announced Friday afternoon.
City leaders and community organizers gathered in front of City Hall Friday to announce Long Beach’s joining in the American Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit and to reveal the emergency fund. Mayor Rex Richardson said the fund was established earlier this week, and has already received over $100,000 in contributions.
The Neighbors Supporting Neighbors fund is being established in partnership with the California Community Foundation (CCF), and will provide rental assistance, food distribution, income replacement and legal support for immigrants. CCF has already contributed $100,000 to the fund.
As of July 18, the fund has garnered $102,200 in donations.
Several labor, immigrant and community leaders joined the press conference offering their support, such as ÓRALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation and Empowerment), the Filipino Migrant Center, United Cambodian Community, Centro CHA, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, California Community Foundation and the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council.
ÓRALE, the United Cambodian Community and the Filipino Migrant Center all asked the City to further show its support by allocating $2.2 million to the Long Beach Justice Fund in the 2026 budget cycle. These organizations have been asking the City to promise these funds for months, as it helps them assist impacted families with legal representation and basic needs.
Executive Director of ÓRALE Gaby Hernandez implored people to not only donate to the fund, but to make an impact in their own area by patrolling their neighborhoods, libraries, stores and schools.
ÓRALE has its own fund that is supported by community donations and has garnered over $117,000 so far. Their fund goes toward supporting rapid responders who monitor ICE sightings, their community defense hotline, food deliveries to impacted families, Know Your Rights education, court and ICE check-in accompaniment, financial assistance and legal support.
The United Cambodian Community said that it has assisted 83 families with basic needs essentials and over 20 people with legal aid recently.
Richardson said the Neighbors Supporting Neighbors fund has a goal of $250,000.
“It’s more than a fund. It’s a lifeline. … When we decide to do what’s right now and what solidarity is, it’s not just in words but in deeds,” said Yvonne Wheeler, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. “Each act of solidarity says you are not alone, we see you and we stand with you.”
Long Beach’s announcement comes days after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed their own fund, along with several other measures to aid the immigrant community.
On Tuesday night, the City of Los Angeles announced they will look into a program to retrieve and return food trucks and vending equipment left behind by those detained by ICE, expanding a pet foster program for animals left behind due to deportations, and educate people on how to recover withheld or unpaid wages and other financial recovery methods after deportation.
Los Angeles will also establish a cash aid fund within 30 days to support workers and their families affected by the raids, and expand their Small Business Interruption Fund. Los Angeles County is also exploring legal action to fight a recent policy change that limits undocumented immigrants’ access to federal programs such as Head Start, community health centers, behavioral health centers and more.
“At a time when fear, trauma, and uncertainty is disrupting lives, Los Angeles County is meeting the moment,” Chair Pro Tem Hilda Solis said in a public statement. “Today’s actions reflect our commitment to empower and sustain our communities with real compassion and care. We must prepare for the long road ahead.”
Residents can donate to the fund at pledge.to/lbneighbors.
