A local mayor in Southern California blasted a controversial proposal that would reportedly see county officials partner with Mexico to expand legal support for immigrants facing deportation.
Bill Wells, the Republican mayor of El Cajon, blasted the San Diego County Board of Supervisors ahead of a key vote Tuesday on whether to formalize a partnership with the Mexican Consulate.
“Our County government, the one you pay for, wants to team up with a foreign consulate to help people stay here who broke federal law to get here. Not legal immigrants. Not citizens who are struggling. People who entered illegally,” he wrote on X Monday.
At issue is a proposal to expand immigrant legal defense services and “Know Your Rights” resources through agreements with the consulate — an effort county officials say is aimed at ensuring due process as federal immigration enforcement ramps up.
Wells, however, is framing the move as a misuse of taxpayer dollars, calling the proposal “crazy.”
“This isn’t compassion. It’s a county government picking a fight with the feds, on your dime, alongside another country,” he added.
The proposal comes as immigration enforcement activity has increased across the region, pulling more families into detention and removal proceedings — often without legal representation.
Individuals in immigration court do not have a constitutional right to an attorney, a gap that can significantly affect outcomes, according to the agenda.
Nearly two-thirds of individuals represented through the program who reached a decision in their cases were granted relief by a judge, according to data from county’s Immigrant Legal Defense Program. By contrast, only about 5% of those without legal representation achieved similar outcomes.
The county argues the program is also cost-effective, with legal services provided at a fraction — nearly 80% less — of what private attorneys typically charge.
Under the proposed agreements, the Mexican Consulate would help expand access to legal resources and information, particularly for Mexican nationals, who make up roughly a quarter of the ILDP’s current caseload. The partnership would also aim to provide critical support services, including help with bond assistance, legal motions, and family contingency planning in the event of detention.
Approximately 109,000 to 159,000 undocumented immigrants from Mexico reside in San Diego County, making up nearly 69% of the county’s total undocumented population,
County officials argue that without intervention, enforcement actions can destabilize communities —leaving children without caregivers, disrupting local workforces, and eroding trust in public institutions.
The plan also calls for distributing “Know Your Rights” materials through public spaces like libraries, health clinics, and social services offices — locations county leaders describe as trusted hubs for vulnerable residents seeking assistance.
“San Diegans are generous. El Cajon is generous,” he wrote. “We’ve welcomed immigrants from all over the world who came here the right way. But there’s a line between welcoming people who follow the rules and spending public money to protect people who didn’t.”
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is expected to take up the measure Tuesday.
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