Will Garden Grove Launch an Immigration Resource Hub as Deportations Rise?

(ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA) Garden Grove is preparing to vote on creating an online immigration resource hub as deportations and immigration enforcement sweeps intensify across Orange County, with a decision due at a City Council meeting on October 28, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. City leaders are set to consider a resolution that would direct staff to build a centralized site listing legal aid, “know your rights” materials, and emergency planning tools for families who fear being caught up in raids. As of Tuesday afternoon, the measure had not been formally approved, leaving thousands of immigrant residents watching closely to see whether Garden Grove will join neighboring cities that have moved faster to offer support.

Councilwoman Ariana Arestegui, who is leading the push, said the idea grew from weeks of pleas by residents and community groups as federal officers increased operations in the area.

“We’ve had so many residents come to us since the beginning of the federal law enforcement presence in our area, and the message is resoundingly clear – our residents want us to keep them informed,” Arestegui said.
The resolution would direct city staff to identify immigration aid services and programs, from legal clinics to informational guides on people’s rights during encounters with officers, and keep those details updated on the city’s website. It would also require staff to assemble emergency preparedness packets for families impacted by raids and commit officials to work with nonprofits and community organizations to shore up support during the crackdown.

Arestegui said the proposal stops short of promising direct financial help, which would require broader agreement among council members and a more complex policy debate.

“My question to the other folks on my council is that an action that you are also willing to take? I cannot do this on my own, and I would need further conversations with my colleagues and my city staff to even see if that is a capability for us as a city,” she said, signaling that legal aid funds or rent assistance for affected families could be discussed if there is political support.
She argued Garden Grove should not lag behind other local governments that have already created similar hubs or relief programs.
“Garden Grove is not unique in what it’s facing, but what has been unique is that we’ve been so slow to respond to an issue that so many of our regional partners are doing their best to address,” she said.

Community pressure has mounted since the summer, with dozens of residents and activists filling public meetings to demand that the city provide clear, reliable information and practical help as federal enforcement escalates. People have asked for an immigration resource hub where they can find vetted legal contacts, guidance for parents about school pickups if a caregiver is detained, and steps to prepare family documents. Others have pressed the city to work more closely with churches, unions, and neighborhood organizations that are already fielding calls from families spooked by unmarked vehicles, courthouse arrests, or agents at apartment complexes. Arestegui said those requests are driving the agenda.

“The evidence that our community needs help is becoming incontrovertible. To turn the other way would be irresponsible for us,” she said.

The stakes are high in Garden Grove, a city where about 49% of residents—roughly 84,000 people—are foreign-born. City data show about 31,000 are not U.S. citizens and 53,000 are naturalized citizens, reflecting a community with deep immigrant roots and varied legal statuses under the same roofs. School districts, clinics, and local nonprofits have said they are fielding more calls about what to do if a parent is detained, how to verify whether a knock on the door is lawful, and where to find reputable legal help as deportations increase in Orange County. An official hub, city advocates say, would give residents one trusted place to start instead of sorting through fast-changing information on social media.

Other Orange County cities—including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Buena Park, Fullerton, and Stanton—have already launched online informational portals or, in some cases, created funds tied to legal aid or basic support for families in crisis. Garden Grove’s move aims to close that gap. The draft resolution directs staff to map existing immigration aid networks, share them on the city site, and collaborate closely with nonprofits and community partners. In practice, that could mean city staff posting multilingual “know your rights” flyers, links to pro bono and low-cost legal providers, and checklists for emergency family plans such as designating a power of attorney for minors if a parent is detained.

The push comes amid a louder and more visible federal presence in the region. Residents have described early-morning detentions and unannounced workplace visits as ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations targets people with removal orders or criminal records, while others without those orders worry about being swept up. In public comment sessions, parents spoke about keeping birth certificates in a folder by the door and coaching teenagers on how to respond if agents arrive when adults are at work. Local attorneys have urged families to avoid notario scams and to verify any legal representative through official bar listings, a step they say a city-run immigration resource hub could help make easier.

The politics inside City Hall have sharpened as the issue has grown. Councilman Joe DoVinh has faced criticism for calling on police to cooperate with immigration enforcement, a position that community groups say would violate California’s Sanctuary State law governing local participation in federal immigration actions. In an Oct. 19 news release, DoVinh said:

“While we strongly support law enforcement, we also call for the Equal Protection of all immigrants, documented or not– this is basic human rights that need to be respected in a civil society like US.”
Immigrant advocates pushed back, saying any city stance perceived as aligning local police with federal agents would erode trust and make residents less likely to report crimes or seek help, while city attorneys have cautioned that state law limits collaboration.

Schools have felt the strain. Walter Muneton, a Garden Grove Unified School District board trustee, described a recent incident at a local elementary campus where federal agents detained a parent because of mistaken identity, triggering a lockdown and the rapid deployment of counselors and support staff to calm students.

“We were able to assemble all of our resources in a short amount of time,” Muneton said. “The district cannot take care of this crisis on its own. We need all hands on deck. My ask would be to come to the table with us.”
District leaders say a city-backed portal could help them point families to accurate, up-to-date guidance when events unfold quickly and rumors spread faster than verified information.

The proposed resolution outlines three immediate steps if it passes: creating and maintaining an online list of immigration services, building emergency preparedness packets for families, and formalizing partnerships with nonprofits already responding to raids. Supporters say the measures are a low-cost way to give residents clarity during a period of fast-moving enforcement actions, while providing a foundation for future debates about direct funding. Advocates who have pressed for action since summer say even small steps—such as a clear list of vetted hotlines and legal clinics—can spare families from costly mistakes when they panic and turn to unlicensed advisors.

The council vote on October 28, 2025 is expected to draw a large crowd, including residents who have shared stories of relatives detained at courthouses and others who say they are changing school drop-off routines to avoid interactions with officers. If the measure is approved, staff would begin assembling the immigration resource hub and coordinating with outside groups, with details to be posted on the city website. If it fails, Garden Grove would remain one of the few large cities in Orange County without a centralized, city-backed resource for immigrant residents during the current wave of deportations.

Arestegui has framed the choice as a test of the city’s willingness to act in a measured way that stays within its authority while still meeting urgent needs. Her supporters cite the growing number of phone calls to city offices and school counselors, and the steady line of residents at recent hearings, as proof that official guidance is overdue.

“The evidence that our community needs help is becoming incontrovertible. To turn the other way would be irresponsible for us,” she said in comments ahead of the vote.

Opponents of expanding city involvement have argued in public forums that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that local efforts risk confusion or political overreach. But others note that the resolution focuses on information, preparedness, and nonprofit collaboration rather than direct legal representation or city-funded benefits, and they point to similar steps taken in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Buena Park, Fullerton, and Stanton. Those cities’ portals generally serve as clearinghouses for legal clinics, hotlines, and educational materials on people’s rights, with some also offering pathways to outside aid funds.

For families living with the daily uncertainty of raids, the difference between rumor and fact can determine whether a child is stranded at school or a parent signs a document they do not understand. Emergency packets—often a simple set of instructions, trusted phone numbers, and a plan for children if an arrest happens—are one of the practical tools immigrant advocates say can reduce chaos when deportations occur. If the council votes yes, Garden Grove staff would be tasked with preparing and distributing those packets, likely in multiple languages, and keeping them updated as policies or local contacts change.

The size and diversity of Garden Grove’s immigrant community intensify the need for reliable information. With about 84,000 foreign-born residents—31,000 not U.S. citizens and 53,000 naturalized citizens—the city includes mixed-status households where grandparents, parents, and children have different legal standing. When enforcement actions spike, those families face complicated choices about work, school, and health care. Advocates say a city-run immigration resource hub could help people quickly find legal screenings to see if they qualify for relief, locate reputable attorneys, and learn how to document a loved one’s medical needs in case of detention.

The debate has also exposed how regional coordination can help or hinder residents. Cities that built hubs earlier have shared templates for online pages, translation strategies, and lists of trusted groups to partner with during enforcement surges. Garden Grove’s draft resolution points explicitly to working with nonprofits and community organizations, reflecting an acknowledgment that most direct services—legal representation, emergency groceries, rent help—flow through these groups. Arestegui has said any discussion of city-funded legal or rental aid would require a separate process, broader support on the dais, and a clear sense of what is financially possible.

“My question to the other folks on my council is that an action that you are also willing to take? I cannot do this on my own, and I would need further conversations with my colleagues and my city staff to even see if that is a capability for us as a city,” she said.

Even as the council weighs its options, the tempo of enforcement remains the backdrop. Residents describe adjusting routines—varying commute times, avoiding certain streets, carrying documents at all times—to account for unannounced visits. Legal advocates say increased contact with agents, even for those not targeted, raises the odds of errors and mistaken identity, the kind of confusion that prompted a school lockdown when agents detained the wrong parent, according to Muneton. Parents say they want a clear place to learn what to do if they are asked for identification, whether they must open the door, and how to contact a trusted lawyer if someone is taken to a detention facility.

That is the gap the proposal seeks to fill. An official city page can consolidate vetted materials, update them as policies shift, and connect people to organizations that specialize in immigrant defense. It can also reduce duplication across departments—police, libraries, parks, and schools—by giving staff a single reference point for families who ask for help. Supporters say the immigration resource hub would not resolve the larger political fight over deportations, but it would give residents something concrete: a map to services, a plan for emergencies, and a set of phone numbers to call when a loved one does not come home.

As council members head into the evening vote, advocates, school officials, and immigrant families are preparing for either outcome. If the measure passes, Garden Grove would begin assembling the hub and convening nonprofits to coordinate, joining other Orange County cities that have already taken similar steps. If it fails, residents who have been crowding City Hall since the summer will likely return to press for action, arguing that the pace and profile of enforcement require a public response. For now, the decision rests with the council, which must choose whether to move quickly on information and preparedness or delay while broader debates over funding and city authority continue.

Arestegui has made clear she believes the time for delay is over.

“Garden Grove is not unique in what it’s facing, but what has been unique is that we’ve been so slow to respond to an issue that so many of our regional partners are doing their best to address,” she said.
With deportations rising and families asking for clarity, the city’s vote on October 28, 2025 will determine whether residents can soon turn to a city-backed immigration resource hub or keep relying on a patchwork of information as enforcement sweeps roll through Orange County.