Hundreds attend Town Hall on immigration

In the face of uncertainty and anger, more than 200 people packed the Steinbeck Hall in Hartnell Community College to gain clarity.

“I get really emotional around this because what’s happening now is not who we are,” said Cindy Muscarello of Salinas.

“I want to learn more about the facts,” said Sandra Martinez of Soledad. “I don’t want to make a decision based on fear factor, which I believe that the current administration at the Washington level is trying to manipulate us.”

The event, hosted by Congressmen Jimmy Panetta and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, provided the latest information on immigration issues, ranging from the border wall to raids.

“We called ICE right away once we heard about it,” said Panetta. “We confirmed that there were no raids going on here on the Central Coast. We want to make sure we have transparency, as best as we can as to what’s going on. We’ve actually requested a meeting with them.”

Other than the impact to families, officials said immigration bans and raids could have a negative impact on the economy. Everything from tourism to the tech and ag industries.

“The estimates are that 70-80% of the farm workers in the United States are undocumented,” said Lofgren. “There isn’t a group of people ready to step forward to take their place. So enforcement efforts will be crippling for the agriculture industry.”

Some republicans said the immigration policies and bans are for the betterment of the country, an attempt to ensure safety and create more opportunities. ICE officials also said recent sweeps were long planned and routine.

“I think this is a human issue more than anything,” said Martinez.

Both Panetta and Longren said they will continue to work with local government and have discussions around immigration as things unfold.