Immigration Rights Committee proposed for Monterey County in the wake of election results
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The County of Monterey announces support of immigration communities, especially those in local agriculture and hospitality. The results of the election has left undocumented communities anxious and worried about what comes next after President-Elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations.
Monterey County District 1 Supervisor Luis A. Alejo who is proposing a new committee dedicated to protecting immigration rights of the County of Monterey.
Alejo is proposing the new committee to the board aimed at helping migrant communities understand their rights and protect them from potential changes.
With Trump's promise of mass deportations, a new committee is being proposed to the board of supervisors to offer protection.
"We've done this before when the last time that President Donald Trump was in office. Monterey county was a leader in providing know your rights information. We were a leader in some of the main lawsuits that prevailed in federal court," Alejo said.
The deportations proposed from the president-elect would impact undocumented family members, dreamer students and families that have U.S. Citizens within them, something Alejo said has not been seen since the 1930 and 40s.
"What we learned from those mass deportations in the past is that they didn't just focus on undocumented immigrants, U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents," Alejo said. "Now, today could be dreamers that are that get caught up in some of these raids and potential deportations. And we know that the impact because our our many of our immigrant families are mixed.”
At the Center for Community Advocacy, lead community housing organizer Jesus Estrada is focused on making sure undocumented people know their rights.
"From not opening the door if they do not have an arrest warrant or a deportation order to not telling everyone the information until an immigration lawyer is present," Estrada said.
Alejo also wants to connect with local law enforcement in providing protection as last time they helped by not participating in local ice raids.
"I think there's no more powerful message to reassure immigrants that our local law enforcement agencies won’t participate. Is getting that message directly from our our top leaders in law enforcement."
If mass deportations do take place, the report to the Board of Supervisors indicates industries affected the most would be hospitality and agriculture.
