Several Costa Mesa residents used the public-comment period on Dec. 2 to press the council for transparency and clearer access to city-funded legal-defense and mutual-aid resources for immigrant residents.

Public commenters thanked the council for allocating funds but said they received inconsistent information about whether the contracts were finalized and how to connect people in need to services. One commenter asked whether families affected by local immigration enforcement, including the family of Gabriel Garcia Aviles, had been contacted about assistance. Others said the city website lacked obvious links and had broken links, making it difficult for residents to find help quickly.

City Attorney Hall Barlow responded that the city has a signed agreement with the Public Law Center and is finalizing an agreement with Immigration Defenders; she said both organizations have been accepting Costa Mesa clients since the council approved funding and that contact information and phone numbers appear on the city’s website. Barlow added that client-level information is confidential, but the city can report aggregate numbers served.

Council members and staff acknowledged the need to improve website navigation and public communication; Mayor Pro Tem Chavez directed staff to fix web content and make informational packets available at the back of the chambers.