SANTA CRUZ — With less than five weeks to go before President-elect Donald Trump makes his return to the White House, Santa Cruz County has declared itself a “sanctuary county” for local immigrant communities as part of an effort to quell fears that have come in response to Trump’s anti-immigration plans and to bolster engagement and collaboration before Inauguration Day.
The resolution was unanimously supported by the Board of Supervisors at its meeting Tuesday and takes a page from a similar declaration it signed in 2017 after Trump’s first victory.
The resolution states that “it is critical to affirm that Santa Cruz County is a community where all residents — regardless of immigration status — are welcomed and contribute to the social and economic fabric of the community,” and that “a relationship of trust between California’s immigrant residents and local agencies, including but not limited to law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and County services is essential to providing a safe environment and services to meet people’s basic needs effectively.”
According to the resolution, 17.4% of the county’s total population, or about 46,237 people, are foreign-born with undocumented immigrants making important cultural and economic contributions, especially in the agriculture, hospitality and construction sectors. The supervisors explained that the statement was meant as a reaffirmation of support for local immigrants and a reminder of existing county policies and state laws that offer protections; all with the hope that those who might benefit from local services will continue to seek them out without fear that it could make them vulnerable to a future mass deportation effort.
Speakers from the public, many of them advocates that regularly engage with immigrants in the county, encouraged the board to follow up on its statement as much as possible with real-world action.
Paul Johnston, a local immigrant rights advocate, said the two primary areas of need are dedicated resources for families that could be traumatized by a deportation effort as well as expanded access to legal aid.
“The reality is, I think you probably know, that thousands and thousands of your constituents are panicking — are already traumatized — by the threat of mass deportation,” said Johnston. “We hope the measures that you are recommending will be decided and moved on with alacrity because we are in an emergency situation for many folks.”
Trump has repeatedly pledged to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history by invoking wartime powers, seeking assistance from like-minded governors and using the military, according to the Associated Press.
Ray Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges, said after Trump took office in 2017, the county experienced a 30% enrollment reduction in Medi-Cal and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP. He encouraged the board to spread information about resident rights when experiencing housing discrimination based on national origin; something he said was also an issue in 2017.
“Without clear action steps, funding or direction to staff, this is simply a prayer and wishful thinking,” said Cancino.
The board’s resolution does direct county staff to engage with and work alongside the county’s community-based organizations to strengthen resources and partnerships that protect populations that could be targeted next year.
Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, who previously said his South County district is about 85% Latino, reminded the audience that in addition to being valued contributors to local culture, immigrants are also the state and county’s primary economic engine.
“The majority of (California’s) economy is agriculture,” said Hernandez. “The backbone is the workforce and that workforce is immigrants.”
The county’s sanctuary status comes more than a month after dozens of county officials from various jurisdictions publicly voiced solidarity with the immigrant community and pledged continued support. The rally also served as an opportunity to remind residents of state laws that protect immigration status privacy and limit local cooperation for potential deportation efforts.
Related Articles
A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work
California man sentenced to more than 3 years for running birthing tourism scheme
As Trump threatens mass deportations, Central America braces for an influx of vulnerable migrants
Santa Clara County becomes first county in the nation to approve oversight committee for residential care facilities
Feds arrest in California former Syrian official who oversaw prison charged with torture
The resolution reiterated some of this, including a pledge not to use county resources to enforce federal immigration law or collect personal information, barring a state or federal mandate, as well as a commendation of the county Sheriff’s Office for maintaining policies that separate local law enforcement from federal immigration enforcement, per the California Values Act.
Outgoing Supervisor Zach Friend said it was important for the county to express its values and commitment to services already being offered while not using language that stokes undue fear.
“We have to make sure that we’re responding to something real and not something potential moving forward,” said Friend.
Bruce McPherson, who also retired after Tuesday’s meeting, said the country needs comprehensive immigration policy reform that recognizes the strain large influxes of immigrants can have on local governments, while also acting in a humane and sensitive way.
Supervisor Manu Koenig underscored the important role immigrants have played in bettering the country by saying, “In past world conflicts we’ve seen that the countries that accepted immigrants really triumphed because of that.”
At the same time, he also shared a reluctance to create too many records that the county could be forced to turn over to federal entities through creation of new laws by the coming Congress.
“I want to make sure that as we proceed with ways to help everyone in our community, we’re not creating vulnerabilities that (we) haven’t thought about.”
The complete resolution is available at santacruzcountyca.gov.
