Ventura County Fund Tops $1 Million to Aid Families Hit by Trump Immigration Raids

The fallout from the Trump administration’s immigration raids continues to ripple through communities — but Ventura County is fighting back. The Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund, created in response to the raids last July, has now surpassed $1 million in donations. This milestone reflects a determined local effort to mitigate the harsh consequences of federal immigration enforcement.

The fund, a coalition of 32 local entities including cities like Ventura and Santa Paula, foundations such as the Weingart Foundation, and institutions like California Lutheran University, is coordinated by the Ventura County Community Foundation. It has disbursed over $139,000 in its sixth round of grants to 11 nonprofits working directly with families and individuals suffering financial hardship due to the raids.

Among the latest recipients are organizations like 805 UndocuFund, Atlas-Ventura Housing, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles in Ventura County, and Rescue Mission Alliance Ventura County. These groups provide a range of essential services — from emergency shelter and rental assistance to food, transportation, and critical healthcare support.

Leah Lacayo, board chair for the fund, highlighted how grants to Atlas-Ventura Housing are helping formerly homeless residents settle into permanent housing by supplying basic household items. Similarly, Catholic Charities is using its funding to assist families and seniors struggling to cover rent, food, and medical expenses.

The fund’s support is a lifeline for those caught in the crosshairs of the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies. By channeling resources to local nonprofits, Ventura County is pushing back against federal overreach and the human toll it exacts.

For more information or to contribute, visit vccf.org/neighbors-support-fund.

This local resistance effort underscores a broader truth: when the federal government weaponizes immigration enforcement to sow fear and disruption, communities must organize to protect their own. Ventura County’s Neighbors Support Fund is a model of that fight — direct, urgent, and unflinching.