Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers,
My name is Michelle Ambriz and I am a volunteer for the 805 Rapid Response Network, and a proud resident of Santa Maria. I am here today to strongly urge this Council to formally establish an immigration ad hoc committee, and to request this item be agendized for the next council meeting. This ad hoc committee would help address our communities concerns on the increasing ICE activity within Santa Maria. If established, this committee could discuss potential action items and resolutions the city can take to protect our immigrant community, this includes:
• Sending a FOIA request to Immigration Customs Enforcement director after any arrests made within Santa Maria city limits.
• Allocating city buildings to non-profits leading immigrant support services for low-rent/no- rent
• Motion to establish ICE-Free Zones across City-owned and City-controlled properties, require clear signage on City properties, establish a permit process for civil enforcement operations, and preserve lawful criminal law enforcement and the execution of valid judicial warrants, similar to an ordinance already approved in Los Angeles. • Requesting information from SMPD’s Chief Williams regarding any actions towards educating officers on the new state laws that are now in effect, as well as prohibit any involvement with ICE.
o CA Values Act (SB 54):
limits state & local law enforcement cooperation in federal immigration enforcement
o Sensitive Location (SB 81):
strengthens protections for "sensitive locations" by prohibiting federal immigration agents from entering nonpublic areas of health facilities (hospitals, clinics, and health centers) without a judicial warrant.
o Comply with CA TRUTH Act:
Ensures local law enforcement agencies provide individuals in their custody with basic
due process and information about their rights should federal immigration authorities seek to make contact with them
• Get Flock
• Safety out of our community
Your community deserves real and direct action from their local elected officials. Community members deserve to feel safe and at the least supported during these horrific times. We call on you to take steps towards building trust with our undocumented community, and that begins with this city standing up for what is right. I urge you to add the immigration ad hoc committee to the next February council meeting, as was mentioned in the October meeting when the motion was tabled.
Thank you.
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Michelle Ambriz-Quintero
She/her/ella