California Boosts Central Coast Immigration Legal Services Funding

(MONTEREY, SAN BENITO, SANTA CRUZ, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES) California is directing new money to expand immigration legal services on the Central Coast, with Catholic Charities of the Central Coast set to receive $1.5 million through SB 104. The funding, announced in October 2025, will scale up free or low-cost help for immigrant families in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties over the coming fiscal year.

State leaders say the move aims to close long-standing service gaps and bolster rapid response capacity as federal enforcement continues to affect local communities.

Statewide Allocation and Oversight

The award is part of a broader $5 million statewide allocation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025 to strengthen legal service infrastructure in parts of the state that historically had fewer resources. According to state documents, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will oversee the rollout through its Immigration Services Funding (ISF) Program.

Officials say the program targets regions where previous rounds reached only a handful of organizations, leaving many families without timely legal help when they needed it most.

• The ISF Program’s 2025–26 portfolio totals nearly $37 million, awarded to 83 organizations statewide.
• The public program funds a wide range of immigration legal services, including:
  • DACA assistance
  • Naturalization
  • Affirmative applications
  • Removal defense
  • Support for immigrant youth

These services commonly include screening for relief, preparing applications, accompanying clients to hearings, and connecting families with social services that stabilize housing, schooling, and work.

Local Impact: Catholic Charities of the Central Coast

Under the award, Catholic Charities of the Central Coast will expand casework and outreach across the four-county region with three main priorities:

1. Strengthening legal representation
2. Supporting rapid response to enforcement actions
3. Growing community education about rights and available remedies

Practically, this expansion will mean more appointments, additional “know your rights” sessions, and faster deployment when raids or urgent legal needs arise. The organization’s expanded footprint is expected to ease pressure on overburdened providers and reduce the distance many residents must travel to get help.

Funding Purpose and Use

State officials framed the allocation as a practical response to increased federal immigration enforcement and the need to ensure fair access to counsel.

Key intended uses:
– Grow attorney and accredited representative capacity
– Expand education so residents know their rights and how to seek help
– Provide guidance on what documents or records to gather before meeting a legal provider
– Maintain rapid response capabilities, including urgent consultations, legal triage, and referrals during enforcement actions

The award addresses shortfalls left by earlier funding cycles, which reached few local groups in the Central Coast and Central Valley.

Community advocates, including the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Immigrant Defense Advocates, pushed to protect and expand funding after proposed state budget cuts in early 2024. Their campaigns highlighted how immigration legal services contribute to family stability, better school outcomes for children, and safer communities when residents feel secure reporting crimes and seeking help.

Policy Context and Regional Stakes

California’s approach pairs local community partners with statewide administration under CDSS. The ISF Program’s design allows organizations to tailor services to local needs while meeting state accountability standards.

On the Central Coast, targeted populations include:
– Farmworker families
– Service-industry workers
– Caregivers
– Students
– Long-settled residents eligible for citizenship, family relief, or humanitarian protections

Practical areas the funding is expected to increase capacity in:
– Removal defense for residents facing deportation
– Affirmative filings that help secure work authorization and stability
– Community education about rights during encounters with enforcement and in schools, homes, or workplaces
– Targeted support for immigrant youth, including legal help and safe referrals to education and social programs

Advocates note these activities reduce risks of abrupt income loss, housing instability, and long-term harm to children when a parent is detained or deported. Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates steady funding for local providers tends to shorten wait times, improve application quality, and reduce missed deadlines that can derail relief.

Access, Timeline, and Contacts

Service expansion is expected to begin immediately and continue through the 2025–26 fiscal year. Residents in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties can seek help through Catholic Charities of the Central Coast and other CDSS-funded organizations serving the region.

For statewide information, referrals, or program details, CDSS directs the public to its Immigration Services Unit. The agency lists the following contacts for help with access and referrals:

• Phone: (916) 651-8017
• Email: [email protected]
• Official program information: CDSS Immigration Services

Local Delivery and Community Education

Local leaders note the SB 104 funds build on a broader statewide approach to make legal help more available in smaller cities and rural areas, where travel, cost, and limited provider capacity have long been barriers.

On the Central Coast, many residents:
– Work long hours
– Face transportation hurdles
– Have difficulty keeping legal appointments far from home

By growing capacity within the region, Catholic Charities of the Central Coast and partner groups can:
– Schedule more workshops
– Offer flexible hours
– Hold clinics closer to where people live and work

Education efforts are expected to reach schools, faith communities, worker centers, and neighborhood hubs. Typical topics include:
– How to prepare family safety plans
– What documents to keep in a safe place
– Where to turn for help in an emergency

State officials emphasize the intent is to give families accurate information early, before problems escalate.

Warnings and Expected Outcomes

The funding announcement includes reminders and cautions:
– Help is free or low-cost for eligible residents
– Be cautious of notarios or unlicensed consultants promising fast results
– Seek assistance only from licensed attorneys or accredited representatives at recognized organizations

Catholic Charities of the Central Coast is part of that recognized network and will expand its reach with the $1.5 million award under SB 104.

While the regional boost totals $5 million, CDSS’s larger $37 million ISF portfolio for 2025–26 underscores the scale of the state’s commitment and its ability to respond to changing federal enforcement by ensuring local organizations can deliver time-sensitive advice and legal defense.

For families on the Central Coast, the practical effects should include:
– More appointments
– Shorter wait times
– Higher chances of finding help close to home
– More completed applications and stronger court defenses for those who qualify
– Clearer paths to permanent stability for long-settled residents

As one regional advocate summarized in briefings: the goal is simple — give people accurate legal help at the moment they need it, where they live.