Marin County ‘values’ illegal immigrants, spends $500k to show it

With immigrant rights at the forefront of conversations nationwide, the Marin County Board of Supervisors have unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the County Executive to invest $500,000 toward safeguarding immigrant communities.

The funding allocation from the Board’s March 4 meeting will bolster legal rights education and assistance, child and family support services, and other coordinated support services for immigrant communities across Marin. Recent federal actions, including sweeping policy changes and immigration raids, have caused widespread fear and trauma. Immigrant communities are facing critical challenges to their safety, livelihoods, and access to essential services. 

“As a County, we have a responsibility to ensure that every resident, regardless of immigration status, feels safe, supported, and valued,” said Mary Sackett, President of the Marin County Board of Supervisors. “This investment in immigrant support services is not just about funding – it’s about reaffirming our values and making sure people in our community have access to the help they need.”

In January 2025, Marin’s Supervisors  declared a statement of unity and shared values, and adopted a resolution on its commitment to democracy and community. The Board emphasized the need to maintain a vibrant and equitable community for all residents, regardless of their identity, background, or immigration status.

County departments and local nonprofits are working together to support immigrants by providing legal rights training and organizing communities to ensure that immigrants continue to feel safe in their homes, workplaces, schools, and places of worship. Working in partnership with local agencies and organizations, the Marin County Public Defender’s Office has conducted more than 30 Know Your Rights workshops and events to ensure immigrant residents and families are aware of their rights and legal options.

The emerging need for increased education on legal rights, child and family supports, and other services for immigrants is growing rapidly and is exceeding the current capacity of local service providers. This one-time allocation will augment and expand services provided by local organizations to support communities at risk of detention and deportation.

Building on community input, the County is determining the best way to allocate funds as quickly as possible and will soon release a request for proposals (RFP) for community organizations and service providers. The funding approach for this investment will prioritize collaboration among community-based organizations (CBOs) to ensure consistency of information, accomplish collective impact, and avoid duplicative efforts. The Board’s critical and timely allocation represents a pivotal strategy to address the unprecedented challenges facing the County’s immigrant communities.

Marin’s local commitment of funds follows a recent state commitment of $25 million in new funding for legal-related services and immigration supports. At this time, it is not clear how much of that funding will be available for the County of Marin, but any state allocation could be used to supplement local funding.

The recent resolution, and this subsequent investment, affirms that we are and will continue to be a united Marin County, committed to democracy, equity and inclusion for all.

To read a related editorial on this topic, click here.