Quick Take
On Thursday, leaders representing Santa Cruz city and county government, public schools and nonprofit organizations reassured the county’s immigrant community of their commitment to support and protect them following former President Donald Trump’s election Tuesday to a second term.
Santa Cruz County leaders representing city and county governments, public schools and nonprofit organizations reassured the local immigrant community of their commitment of support in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s election Tuesday to a second term.
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chair Justin Cummings, District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, soon-to-be Sheriff Chris Clark and County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah were among the local leaders who gathered at the Santa Cruz County courthouse Thursday afternoon.
County leaders also signed a solidarity letter outlining their commitments to the immigrant community.
Cummings addressed the immigrant community in Spanish, reassuring them that Santa Cruz County is and will remain a sanctuary county, continuing to support them and provide health care services. The county will not share any personal information with federal immigration authorities, he said.
“We are committed to providing health and nutrition services for the community, especially for those who have no other options,” Cummings said. “We will continue to work with our partners to provide critical services while maintaining your information [as] confidential.”
Santa Cruz County has an estimated 19,500 undocumented immigrants, and a vast majority of them are farmworkers. Immigrants are the backbone of the community and the local economy in the Pajaro Valley, said District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, whose district spans the majority of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley.
In Watsonville, nonprofit organizations are beginning to navigate the potential impacts a second Trump presidency could have on the city’s large undocumented community and say they are committed to protecting them.
The County and City of Santa Cruz and the City of Watsonville have already adopted resolutions affirming that each jurisdiction is committed to protecting residents regardless of immigration status. In addition, the state of California’s “California Values Act” prohibits state and local law enforcement from using funds or personnel to support immigration enforcement.
“Our role as law enforcement in the county is not going to change,” said Clark, who is set to take over as sheriff in December. “There are certain state protections that are in place and then our job is not to enforce federal law. It goes against public safety and to be able to enhance public safety.”
The sheriff’s office plans to do community outreach in different areas of the county, especially South County, to ensure that message gets across, Clark said. Public safety doesn’t happen in a vacuum, nor does it happen in a state of fear, he said. Instead, it exists when there is trust, collaboration and respect.
“We care about everybody that lives here. It doesn’t matter where people are from or how you got here,” said Clark. “We’re here to help and we want to help, and just know that you can trust the fact that we show up. We’re there to do exactly that.”
Sabbah, who heads the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, reaffirmed that every child has a right to receive a free public education without discrimination, reprisal or fear, regardless of immigration status, race or gender identity. All superintendents in the county are prepared to assert and defend the rights of students and families, he said.
MariaElena De La Garza, CEO of Community Action Board, said the nonprofit will continue to prioritize and respond to the needs of the county’s immigrant community, and ensure that services remain accessible to those who need them the most.
Community Action Board plans to bring back red cards that detail the rights of undocumented individuals, such as not having to open the door if an immigration agent is knocking. In addition, the nonprofit plans to partner with immigration lawyers in the community to offer free legal consultations available in English, Spanish and Mixteco.
“We understand and we will continue to serve our immigrant community,” De La Garza said. “They’re essential workers that are the foundation of, not only our county, but of the United States.” She added that the county has already activated a network “of these community partners, of these county leaders, of these educational leaders and of these community based organizations. We are ready.”
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