Efforts to expand legal aid to immigrants are growing in Orange County more than eight years after officials in Santa Ana – OC’s only sanctuary city – started plans to roll out a fund to help protect residents from deportation.

The fund in Santa Ana that started under President Donald Trump’s first administration could also see its counterpart launch in neighboring Costa Mesa as officials there are anticipated to discuss an immigration legal defense fund for their own residents.

At the same time, Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento along with community organizations and nonprofits are rolling out a $1.5 million fund dubbed the OC Liberty Fund, aimed at helping immigrant families navigate the legal system.

Sarmiento, who helped push for the defense fund in Santa Ana when he was on

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