The Watsonville City Council and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday both unanimously passed resolutions to support the immigrant community, days before reelected President Donald Trump prepares to retake the office on Jan. 20.
Trump has promised a hardline stance on immigrants, including beginning mass deportations on his first day in office.
But the message from Watsonville Police Chief Jorge Zamora, who gave a brief presentation to the City Council, was succinct: local police will not assist federal immigration authorities.
The immigrant community, Zamora said, “is integral to the social and economic fabric of our region.”
“I want to be clear and let our community know that we will not seek out or detain people based solely on their immigration status,” he said. “We do not care about your immigration status.”
There have been no reports locally of raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). But a large scale raid in Kern County on Jan. 7 of a Home Depot parking lot and a breakfast spot where many migrant laborers congregate has shocked many, and is seen as a portent of future action.
In passing the resolution, the council was reaffirming the city’s status as a “sanctuary city,” which was passed in 2007.
“It is important for the city of Watsonville to reaffirm its commitment to support and protect the safety and well-being of immigrants in our community that may be arrested and deported due to these policies,” Zamora said.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors, meanwhile, passed a resolution that reestablishes the county as a “welcoming county for immigrants and refugees.”
The supervisors also approved $25,000 to fund “know your rights” ads on Spanish radio, television and social media, and print 20,000 wallet-sized “know your rights” redcards to distribute throughout the county.
“Monterey County is once again a leader when it comes to supporting and defending our immigrant workers and families,” said Supervisor Luis Alejo, who co-chairs the Monterey County Immigration Rights Ad Hoc Committee. “The Board of Supervisors unanimously reaffirmed that we are a Welcoming County for immigrants and we are committed to deploying resources that informs immigrants on their rights in light of the planned massive deportations targeting them”
Alejo added that immigrants were called ‘essential workers’ during the pandemic.
“Now, they are asking for us to be there for them when they need us,” Alejo said.
Zamora said that Trump’s impending inauguration already has many people on edge.
“The fear is real,” he said. “There are people who are not going out to buy groceries, they’re staying in their home- they’re isolated.”
Watsonville Police now do migrant education, going out into the fields and telling people what their rights are.
“It is imperative that we maintain a connection with these people, and as a police agency the last thing we want is for someone not to call the police when they need us the most,” Zamora said. “This resolution reaffirms the City of Watsonville’s dedication to its immigrant community during a time of uncertainty. It sends a strong message of solidarity and support, ensuring all residents feel valued and protected regardless of their immigration status.”
Kate Hinnenkamp, who oversees Community Action Board’s Immigration Project, said that everyone within the borders of the U.S. has the same constitutional rights such as the right to remain silent. Agents from ICE still need probable cause to detain someone, she said.
“We understand that there are laws that have to be enforced, but there are rules about how and when those laws can be enforced,” she said. “Somebody cannot be stopped, detained, questioned just based on the color of their skin or because they are dressed like a farmworker.”
