Undocumented Immigrants
By PAUL J. YOUNG, City News Service
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Following a lengthy public hearing, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday signed off on a measure emphasizing Riverside County is a “safe place for all residents, irrespective of immigration status,” paving the way for expansion of resources, including potential financial assistance, benefiting those who may face deportation under renewed federal immigration law enforcement.
“Everybody should be protected, especially those individuals who are here because they want a better future for themselves and their families,” board Chairman Manuel Perez said. “They’re working hard every day, paying their taxes, giving back to society one way or another. There’s no language referring to this becoming a `sanctuary county.”‘
Perez and Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez jointly proposed an action plan to establish a one-stop web portal with information on how undocumented immigrants can receive legal and other aid, as well as directing county staff to seek out possible funding mechanisms to help the undocumented community — prioritizing so-called “dreamers” — and draft a formal resolution declaring the county’s position on the status of non-citizens.
“The county is dedicated to ensuring that it is a safe place for all residents, irrespective of immigration status, to work, attend school and access available and eligible resources,” according to a joint statement by Perez and Gutierrez.
Over more than three hours, the board heard testimony prior to voting 4-0 in favor of the plan, with Supervisor Karen Spiegel departing early to attend a funeral.
“These are us, not others,” Diana Fox, executive director of the nonprofit Reach Out, told the board. “These people are the fabric of our society. We need to stand up together.”
A child, identifying himself only as Amman, barely able to see over the podium, told the board, “I’m talking for my friends who have stopped going to school because of immigration. I don’t want their parents to go away from them. And I want them to keep going to school so I can play with them.”
Donna Aarons called the supervisors’ proposal “a slap in the face to those of us who came here legally.”
“Those who are here illegally cause a strain on the country,” she said. “California cannot afford to provide funding and services to those who aren’t here legally — housing, food stamps, cash aid. They are illegal aliens, and it doesn’t matter whether they abide by the law.”
Paul Petrella rejected the concept of “an undocumented immigrant.”
“There’s no such thing,” he said. “Anybody who has entered our country illegally has committed a crime. There should be no socialist, leftist, un-American resistance to the law of the land. Do not disregard federal law. This is not hateful. I’m married to a Mexican woman who came here legally.”
Representatives from multiple nonprofit organizations vowed ongoing support for those who may face deportation proceedings, including Todec Legal Center, League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, and Inland SoCal United Way.
I’m talking for my friends who have stopped going to school because of immigration…I want them to keep going to school so I can play with them.” ~Schoolboy named Amman
Perez and Gutierrez said they were originally inspired to propose an action plan to enhance community understanding of what undocumented immigrants are entitled to in California, particularly those residents who availed themselves of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which was initiated during the Obama administration.
Nearly 1 million DACA recipients, or “dreamers,” established residency until the program was halted by President Donald Trump during his 2017-21 term. It was brought back under the Biden administration but largely tied up by legal challenges. The program facilitated permanent residency for border crossers who were minors at the time.
The supervisors moved beyond DACA in their proposal, in response to the upswing in U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement apprehensions of migrants, with the current focus ostensibly on criminal offenders.
In his first week back in the White House, Trump declared a national emergency along the southern border with Mexico under a “Securing Our Borders” directive, ending the Biden administration’s “catch-and-release” program and re-instituting the “Remain-in-Mexico” policy that prohibits automatic asylum for those seeking entry.
During the Biden administration, Riverside County received a constant stream of border crossers, most of whom were dropped by Border Patrol agents in Blythe, Indio and Murrieta. One county Executive Office estimate put the figure at anywhere from 120 to 200 “drop-offs” per day.
CBP figures show that from 2022 to 2024, there were about 7 million “land border encounters” involving people entering the U.S. from Mexico. Figures released last year by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office indicated nearly 360,000 arrivals were awaiting immigration hearings statewide.
Gutierrez said he and the chairman felt it important to recognize “most immigrants are law-abiding folks who care about their community.”
Those who are here illegally cause a strain on the country.” ~ Donna Aarons
“With something like this, we’re looking at finding them resources,” he said. “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
The supervisors published a California Department of Justice fact sheet containing explanations for the California Values Act, Trust and Truth acts, which together prohibit local law enforcement agencies from directly participating in federal immigration enforcement actions, including not reporting foreign nationals’ presence in correctional facilities, barring a court order.
Undersheriff Don Sharp read an email from Sheriff Chad Bianco — who is in Washington, D.C., meeting with Border Patrol administrators — saying “`the board should be working to ensure that county government is here to protect all residents, (not causing) a political divide.”
The board directed the Executive Office to draft a resolution declaring support for “law-abiding” asylum seekers and dreamers, along with researching revenue options to assist them and establishing the web portal.
“We need to take a stand,” Perez said. “We will not support the separation of families.”
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