ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Elk Grove’s City Council has decided to add some FUEL to the issue of immigration enforcement in the region, FUEL meaning providing funding to the City of Sacramento-based “Family, Unity, Education and Legal Network for Immigrants” (FUEL) network.

After hearing a report on the program at its June 25 meeting, the council unanimously approved a staff recommendation to contribute $10,000 to the network of immigrant advocates and resource providers. Additionally, the council asked staff to return with a resolution authorizing an additional $15,000 for the program at its July 23 meeting.

According to its website, FUEL was established by the city of Sacramento in November 2017 in collaboration with a coalition of more than 80 local nonprofits, religious organizations, law school immigration clinics, businesses, local pro bono attorneys, educators and other community partners. It provides legal, informational and health needs to Sacramento’s immigrant and refugee populations.

On its website, the organization states it is “…committed to protecting immigrant families. By understanding our legal rights, utilizing our local resources and services, and standing together as a community in support of immigrants, we can respond to ICE’s intimidation tactics with power, not panic.”

In her staff presentation, Elk Grove management analyst I Femi Omotesho said that in November 2017, City Council voted to participate in the network and approved contributing $10,000 to FUEL for its legal work providing assistance to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program participants in Elk Grove.

At a February 2019 meeting, the council voted to participate in the Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) network as a collaborative member to assist with legal representations for immigrants facing deportation, a move that led to the city’s inclusion in discussions regarding funding for FUEL.

California Immigration Project legal director Nicole Zanardi told council that California Immigration Project helps coordinate FUEL services in the area. Because Sacramento funds the network to the tune of $500,000 annually, most services go to its residents, with money actively funding 15 of the 80-plus network partners along with helping to pay FUEL staff.

FUEL provides services in three categories: legal assistance, education and outreach, and health and medical. Zanardi said each category has subcategories where network providers specialize, and specific funding levels are established. A selection committee evaluates each funding request under these categories and issues awards.

“The majority of the funding goes to those funded partners who then provide those services to the community,” Zanardi said.

All services are free to those using the FUEL network. Zanardi said Elk Grove immigrant residents can receive services if they work in Sacramento, have kids in school there or have family members residing in the city.

Contributing funding to the network would allow all Elk Grove immigrant residents access to FUEL.

As an example of services, Zanardi said the network conducted education and outreach through a virtual training the previous week to more than 200 members of a local union on “know your rights” should Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appear at the workplace. FUEL has a fulltime staff attorney who provides removal services as well as emergency intervention when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents show up and partners with Bay-area organization La Familia to provide mental health counseling.

Zanardi said immigration enforcement is worse today than it was in 2017 to 2020. She added that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are going after immigrants from more cultures and they were seeing Russians, Ukrainians and others seeking FUEL services.

“I think their work is phenomenal,” Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said, adding she was very familiar with FUEL from her time on the school board.

When she recently met with students on the city’s Summer Civic program, Singh-Allen said, several expressed concerns about recent immigration enforcement measures.

“This is not something that doesn’t touch the city of Elk Grove and some of our residents,” Singh-Allen added.

“In 2025, this is vital and super important,” Vice-Mayor Sergio Robles said, fighting back some emotion. Robles added that immigration is “very close to him” right now, noting a number of city residents have been arrested.

“Ten thousand dollars is not enough,” Robles said. “We should do more, like raise it to $25,000.”

Since the staff recommendation for the June 25 meeting was for up to $10,000, City Attorney Jonathan Hobbs said, that amount was what council should consider adopting.

Hobbs added that council could increase the amount at an upcoming meeting if it provided staff guidance on what that amount would be.

Omotesho noted in her presentation that it would require council approval of a budget amendment to provide, since the money was not included in the 2025-2026 budget.

Council voted 4-0 (Councilman Kevin Spease had an excused absence) to approve the funding and directed staff to return with a resolution to add another $15,000.