Local immigration groups call for reform

UPDATE 11/14/2016 6:15 PM:

In his first post-election interview with “60 Minutes,” President-Elect Donald Trump says he’ll focus on deporting criminal immigrants and not everyone living in the U.S. illegally.

He said as many as 2-3 million criminal immigrants could be deported immediately. Trump also weighed in on the U.S. Mexican border, saying he would accept a fence in some areas, but added a wall would be more appropriate in some spots.

Some say they are still nervous that their families could be torn apart. That’s why local groups are asking leaders to do everything they can to keep law abiding undocumented immigrants safe.

On Monday, groups from throughout the Central Coast showed a united front in support of those who stand to lose the most from new immigration laws.

“We’re all working, making sure we continue to fight, continue to work for policies that work and laws that work for all, including our immigrant community,” said Adriana Melgoza with the Watsonville Law Center.

The Immigration Action Group, ACLU, Watsonville Law Center and others said they’re getting inundated with calls of concern.

“Sadly the biggest fear from our families is, “What’s going to happen to our families?” I have a lot of families that are calling and saying, “What’s going to happen to my children if we get separated? Which is unfortunate,” Melgoza said.

Until President-elect Trump takes office in January, the future is uncertain. That’s especially true for those in the country under DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

“Currently (we are) recommending that individuals who have DACA and in renewal process, continue with the renewal process,” Melgoza said. “What they can lose is their money, which is unfortunate. But for individuals currently seeking a new application for DACA, asking them to hold on because we don’t know what’s going to happen to that executive order.”

The group said people need to be prepared, know their rights and ask questions. That’s why they’re holding community forums over the next week.

“So they can come, ask questions, get information correctly, they can avoid being defrauded or spending money with unscrupulous immigration consultants,” said Doug Keegan with the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project.

Two of the meetings are on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. One is at Watsonville High School and the other at the recreation center in Castroville.

ORIGINAL POST:

A coalition of unions, attorneys and support groups are asking the incoming Trump administration to abandon “hateful and troublesome rhetoric” and move forward on immigration reform.

At a press conference held Monday in front of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors chambers in Salinas, the Immigration Action Group called for elected officials to protect immigrants from discrimination.

Speakers advised against new applications for DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, suggesting it’s best not to provide new information to the government.

During an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump said, “what we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, where a lot of these people, probably two million, it could be even three million, we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate. But we’re getting them out of our country, they’re here illegally.”

KION’s Mariana Hicks is covering the story and will have a full report tonight at 5 and 6 on KION 5/46.