Local and state leaders gather on Thursday to celebrate the state's $15 million allocation in its budget for the Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project to support unaccompanied immigrant children, including on the Central Coast.
Local and state leaders gather on Thursday to celebrate the state's $15 million allocation in its budget for the Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project to support unaccompanied immigrant children, including on the Central Coast. Credit: Pricila Flores / Noozhawk photo

A program that provides legal representation and support to unaccompanied immigrant children in California, including along the Central Coast, has secured $15 million in the state’s 2026-27 budget to continue its services.

The Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project is a two-year pilot project under the California Department of Social Services that began in 2022.

“Some of the most vulnerable people in California today are child and teenage immigrants who are navigating a life in a new country without their parents,” State Assemblyman Gregg Hart said during a press conference on Thursday.

Local and state leaders gathered at Carpinteria City Hall on Thursday for Hart’s announcement that funding was included in the 2026-27 state budget, after it wasn’t included in the proposed budget.  

The $15 million will support community-based organizations serving unaccompanied minors with legal representation and case management support in education, mental health, medical care, food and housing assistance until June 2029, he added.

CHIRP provided the nonprofit Santa Barbara Immigrant Legal Defense Center with funding to represent almost 100 unaccompanied immigrant children and youths in the Tri-County area during the past year, according to Julissa Peña, executive director of the Legal Defense Center.

Across all of the center’s programs, it serves more than 300 children and young adults, she added.

“Every week, we meet children who arrive at our office terrified; they are afraid to go to court, afraid to attend their ICE check-ins, afraid that showing up to comply with the law could mean being taken into custody and separated from the people who have become their family,” Peña said.

When funding for the program wasn’t included in the proposed budget, it rang alarm bells for the Santa Barbara Immigrant Legal Defense Center staff, who quickly approached Hart for help.

Julissa Peña, executive director of the Santa Barbara Immigrant Legal Defense Center, shares that the center has helped about 100 unaccompanied immigrant children along the Central Coast under CHIRP.
Julissa Peña, executive director of the Santa Barbara Immigrant Legal Defense Center, shares that the center has helped about 100 unaccompanied immigrant children along the Central Coast under CHIRP. Credit: Pricila Flores / Noozhawk photo

A cut in funding would reduce the number of children to which the center could provide legal representation, according to Peña.

“How do we expect a 3-year-old to understand immigration law?” she asked. “We cannot and should not.”

Hart added that he didn’t know the specifics regarding why Gov. Gavin Newsom did not include the program’s funding in the budget. 

“I think it was probably just another thing they were trying to save funding on,” he said.

Hart authored the Assembly budget request for the $15 million to be included.

State Assemblyman Gregg Hart says Thursday that the funding for the CHIRP program initially wasn't included in the state's proposed budget, leaving the program at risk, which was "not acceptable to him."
State Assemblyman Gregg Hart says Thursday that the funding for the CHIRP program initially wasn’t included in the state’s proposed budget, leaving the program at risk, which was “not acceptable to him.” Credit: Pricila Flores / Noozhawk photo

Sen. Jesse Arreguín authored the corresponding Senate request, and following support from legislative leaders, including Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón and Newsom, the funds were included.

“It’s not easy to make changes like this to the state budget, but we have an amazing superpower in Santa Barbara County because we have Sen. Monique Limón,” Hart said.

The secured funds for immigrant families are especially poignant amid an increase in federal immigration enforcement activity across the state and days before the anniversary of the large immigration raids at Glass House Farms, according to Fifth District Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez. 

“At a basic level, the CHIRP program brings hope,” Hart said. 

Pricila Flores is a Noozhawk staff writer and California Local News Fellow. She can be reached at pflores@noozhawk.com.