Mayor Patino and Councilmembers Soto, Escobedo, Aguilera and Flores:
With the exception of Councilmember Soto, I was appalled at what I witnessed at the last Council meeting, particularly the comments by Mayor Patino.
Tomorrow, February 18th, it will be one year since Cesar Vasquez, a respected activist leader, led a student walk-out to protest ICE activities in our Santa Maria. Many of these students testified at that night’s Council meeting, explaining to you the fear they experience worrying that their parents won’t be home when they return from school. The students were joined by many community members who spoke and these testimonies have continued at many Council meetings. Yet, 4 of you continue to say that you haven’t heard anything and know nothing about the cruel and illegal actions by ICE and the Border Patrol.
Despite having said you would agendize a discussion on forming an Ad Hoc Immigration Committee to look into legal ways to protect residents, you chose to pass a meaningless resolution backed by soundbites claiming to care for our community. Once again ignoring Councilmember Soto’s ideas and the community’s demand you take real action.
Mayor Patino – By doubting the real numbers we’ve reported to you of kidnappings perpetrated by ICE in Santa Maria, you disrespected Primitiva Hernandez and 805 Rapid Response’s staff and volunteers who live these actions daily. Perhaps you will believe these comments:
Senate Pro-Tempore Monique Limón speaking before the State Senate recently: “In Santa Barbara County, there have been over 1,400 individuals have been detained and only a fraction of less than 1% had warrants.” These facts come from the Department of Homeland Security.
CBS News reported that less than 14% of nearly 400,000 immigrants arrested by ICE in 2025 had charges or convictions for violent criminal offenses.
Cesar Vasquez, 805RepuestaRapida: FB posting on 2/16: As of today, ICE has kidnapped over 1620 members from the streets of VC, SB, and SLO counties. Over 400 of those coming from Santa Maria alone.
So much more to say about how you lied about Indivisible groups everywhere being violent and ICE agents being good guys with families but I will close with this:
We are not so much protesting as protecting what we love – democracy and the Constitution -- and we will not be silenced on the streets and in the voting booths.
Pam Gates