Good evening Mayor Patino and Councilmembers,
My
name
is
Raul
Olivera,
and
I
am
an
organizer
with
MICOP
in
Santa
Maria.
I
am
here
as
a
supporter
of
the
805
Immigrant
Coalition
to
respectfully
ask
for
your
support
in
establishing
an
Immigration
Ad
Hoc
Committee
.
This committee would provide a meaningful way for residents like myself to share how immigration
enforcement
impacts
community
health,
safety,
and
overall
well-being.
As you know, history repeats itself, and you are in a position to take action, and to show your community
how
you
like
to
be
represented
or
remembered
as
a
city
council
that
stood
its
ground
and
took
action
like
this
to
support
the
mixed-status
immigrant
families
in
the
city
of
Santa
Maria.
I
myself
have
witnessed
the
abuse,
brutalization,
and
detention
of
people
of
color,
especially
people
like
me,
who
are
Indigenous.
I
believe
that
by
forming
this
committee,
the
City
of
Santa
Maria
can
stay
better
informed
and
engaged
with
our
immigrant
community.
I
urge
your
support.
Thank
you.
Si
Se
Puede!