My name is Eddie Meyer, and I am a senior policy advocate at the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
On behalf of the ACLU, thank you to the board and county staff for working with the community to develop a people-centered budget.
We applaud the inclusion of full funding for the Immigrant Legal Defense Program in the proposed FY 2026-27 & 2027-28 budget. ILDP is a universal, merits-blind program that provides legal representation to people in detention and to unaccompanied minors. It protects due process, keeps families together, and helps ensure no one faces one of the most complex legal systems in our country alone.
We also appreciate the funding in the proposed budget for a Department of Youth Development feasibility study and the extension of the ¡Más Fresco! Plus program. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the county to strengthen worker protections and other safety net programs.
We urge you to vote yes on the proposed budget.
