Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order to provide direct cash assistance to illegal immigrants in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Bass said at a press conference the aid will be distributed as cash cards, the Los Angeles Times noted.
The cards will reportedly have a couple hundred dollars on them.
“There is a need for me to have an executive directive to help our city understand how to protect itself from our federal government,” Bass said at the press conference, according to Fox News.
“What we have seen here over the last, now six weeks of raids that pop up, and we never know exactly when and where they’re going to happen,” she added.
LA to give cash cards to illegal immigrants who stop going to work over fear of ICE raidshttps://t.co/iXDVGaDA8x
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 12, 2025
Fox News provided further details:
The order also requires city departments to create a plan for protocols and training on how to comply with Los Angeles’ sanctuary city ordinance.
In addition, Bass said a plan is being worked out to provide cash assistance to those affected by the enforcement operations, the Los Angeles Times reported. Cash cards with a “couple hundred” dollars on them will be distributed by immigrants’ rights groups in about a week, Bass said.
The money will not come from city coffers, but from philanthropic partners, she said.
“You’re telling me that isn’t a Babylon Bee headline?” a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital, referring to the satirical news site. “Recent immigration enforcement in California has resulted in successfully detaining countless violent criminals and liberating children from illegal labor exploitation. But instead of helping these children or putting American citizens first, Bass is doubling down on her defense of illegal aliens.
“Americans are sick of these pathetic stunts from Democrat politicians. That’s why they elected President Trump,” the spokesperson added. “They want someone who will put America First, and it’s certainly not Karen, Gavin & Co.”
“Los Angeles is partnering with a taxpayer-funded open borders nonprofit (CHIRLA) to provide direct cash assistance to illegal migrants and their families affected by the federal government’s immigration enforcement. CHIRLA helped organize the riots in L.A.,” journalist Andy Ngo claimed.
Los Angeles is partnering with a taxpayer-funded open borders nonprofit (CHIRLA) to provide direct cash assistance to illegal migrants and their families affected by the federal government’s immigration enforcement. CHIRLA helped organize the riots in L.A. https://t.co/IPPAv6f2XO
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2025
More info from the Los Angeles Times:
Bass spoke about a family she met who needed two incomes to afford their rent. After one of the breadwinners was detained in an immigration raid, she said, the family is concerned they may face eviction.
It was not immediately clear what the qualifications will be needed to receive the cards.
The mayor emphasized that the money will not come from city coffers but from philanthropic partners. The cards will be distributed by immigrants rights groups such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.
The city will coordinate between philanthropists and organizations distributing the cards, according to the mayor’s office.
The mayor compared the program to “Angeleno Cards,” created by Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2020 to give financial assistance to people struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement came during a Bass news conference about an executive order she signed Friday directing all city departments to “bolster protocols” and training on how to comply with the city’s sanctuary policy, which states that city employees and city property may not be used to “investigate, cite, arrest, hold, transfer or detain any person” for the purpose of immigration enforcement, except for serious crimes. Departments will have to come up with their plans within two weeks.
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles over its ‘sanctuary city’ policy last month, alleging it interferes with federal immigration enforcement.
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