FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2025
CONTACT: press@acaciajustice.org
SACRAMENTO, CA — The Acacia Center for Justice is deeply disappointed to learn that Governor Gavin Newsom’s May budget revision fails to include funding for the Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project (CHIRP) to protect unaccompanied immigrant children at a time of heightened threats by the federal government.
Following the publication of the May budget revision, Hortencia Rodríguez Sandoval, director of community partnerships and state and local policy at the Acacia Center for Justice, released the following statement:
“It is no secret that over the last year the federal government has repeatedly attacked unaccompanied immigrant children going so far as attempting to deport them without completing their immigration court proceedings in the middle of the night, in violation of the law. Governor Newsom has an opportunity here in California to put safeguards in place for unaccompanied kids at a time when it’s needed most.
“We are not asking him to build an entire safety net from scratch; we have a successful and effective program already in place that needs to be renewed now more than ever. CHIRP provides these children with the care, stability, and legal support they need to navigate life-altering proceedings with dignity. California has recognized this need before, and the Legislature has repeatedly stood up for unaccompanied children when their rights and futures were at stake.
“Unaccompanied immigrant children are among the most vulnerable members of our society. Many have fled violence, persecution, trafficking, abuse, or abandonment, only to face a complex immigration system alone.
“We call on Governor Newsom and the California Legislature to once again restore funding for CHIRP, protect these children, and ensure California does not abandon kids living in California communities who need us most.”
Acacia Center for Justice expands meaningful access to justice and freedom for immigrants at risk of detention or deportation in partnership with an accountable and independent national network of immigrant legal service providers and community partners. Acacia Center for Justice’s reach and impact are unparalleled. The national nonprofit currently operates publicly funded programs and responsive collaborations through a network of over 130 legal service providers nationwide.
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