Governor Newsom signs budget measure restricting taxpayer-funded legal services for noncitizens with serious or violent felony convictions, drawing fierce criticism from immigrant rights advocates.
In a move that has ignited a firestorm of protest from immigrant advocacy groups, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a measure into the 2025 budget that bars illegal immigrants with serious or violent felony convictions from receiving taxpayer-funded legal aid in immigration cases.
The change, set to take effect in 2026, marks the first significant alteration to who is eligible for California’s Equal Access Fund since its inception in 1999.
Governor Newsom, in a signed note to the state Senate on February 7, emphasized that no taxpayer money in the budget should support “immigration-related legal services for noncitizens convicted of serious or violent felonies.” While Republican lawmakers had previously attempted to prevent such funds from being used for felons, they were reportedly blocked by Democrats until this recent development…