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Credit: DisneyRaids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have rocked Southern California, including the Anaheim area around Disneyland. The raids are a part of President Donald Trump’s campaign promise of “mass deportations” of anyone in the country illegally.
Many in immigrant communities have gone into hiding out of a fear of being captured. However, this has left holes in the jobs these people once occupied and made it difficult for them to pay for everyday needs like rent, food, and clothing.
To help with this effort, the city of Anaheim launched Anaheim Contigo, which translates to Anaheim With You. The goal is to provide support for people whose lives have been disrupted by ICE raids, links to critical city services, and accurate information about immigration enforcement raids.
When the program was launched, it did so without funding from the city; however, it raised over $35,000 in just over a month. Thus far, the program has given out $3,000 in rent and utility payments to seven families who were awarded grants to help with their expenses. However, with the program running out of funds, it is looking for alternative sources to help with its programs.
Anaheim Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava has suggested that the city use $250,000 of the $15 million that The Walt Disney Company donated for affordable housing to help support Anaheim Contigo. Rubalcava also said that “one of the city’s largest employers” refused to donate to the fund. Disneyland is Anaheim’s largest employer.
Disney donated $15 million to the city for affordable housing after it approved Disneyland’s $2 billion DisneylandForward expansion project. This was the first of two $15 million donations Disney promised the city after the project’s approval.
The city of Anaheim is facing a budget crisis of its own, with a $64 million deficit. Citywide, departments are being asked to slash their budgets, delay improvement projects, and reconsider services to meet a slimmed-down budget for this fiscal year.
Before allocating the $250,000 to Anaheim Contigo, the city council must first determine whether its use of the money is legal. The council will reconvene on July 22 to determine the next steps if using part of the donation for Anaheim Contigo is legal.
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said:
We are called to meet the moment and prioritize the basic needs of our Anaheim residents. This only scratches the surface of the need that’s out there. We are stronger when we work together. If we are going to advertise Anaheim Contigo, we need to stand by it, not just with words.
The TimesOC contacted a Disneyland spokesperson to comment on whether Disney refused to donate to Anaheim Contigo, but did not receive a response.
What do you think of Anaheim using Disney’s affordable housing donation to assist undocumented immigrants in their time of need? Let us know in the comments.