Immigrant Rights Leaders React to Santa Ana Sanctuary Policy Vote
SANTA ANA, Calif - Dec. 7, 2016 - Last night the Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved a resolution in support of declaring Santa Ana a Sanctuary City. The resolution, supported by immigrant residents and leaders is one of the strongest passed since the election of Donald Trump. While it is mostly symbolic, the council members made a commitment to quickly turn the principles of the resolution into city law by adopting them into an ordinance, a process they will begin at the next council meeting.
Following the vote immigrant rights leaders involved with the efforts issued the following statements:
“Last night’s vote was an example of the type of unity and support our community will need from our elected leaders. While we commend the Santa Ana City Council members in the strongest terms possible, we understand that the work is not over yet. We urge a speedy process in turning the principles of the resolution into city law, and are prepared to work with them to make Sanctuary the law of the city. We also urge incoming Council members Jose Solorio and Juan Villegas to join the Council Majority in supporting a Sanctuary Ordinance, and urge Mayor Pulido to attend the next meeting support his city’s immigrant residents,” said Faby Jacome, Deportation Defense Organizer at Orange County Immigrant Youth United (OCIYU)
“The Santa Ana City Council took steps to make Santa Ana Sanctuary City. The community, which has organized for years to fight against deportations and immigration enforcement programs, turned out in big numbers to let their elected officials know that they support the efforts but also wanted to make sure that it was not only a symbolic statement but a true Sanctuary in practice by having an ordinance that makes Santa Ana ICE free. We remain committed to fight and put a resistance against any form of deportation and criminalization programs against our communities. We will hold the next upcoming city council accountable to ensure true change is made but we need you to join us because together we are stronger,” said Carlos Perea, Program Director at Resilience OC.
"No other city that has declared itself a 'sanctuary' also operates an immigration detention facility. We commend the City of Santa Ana for wanting to become a sanctuary city to protect its immigrant community, but the City will only be a true sanctuary when it terminates its contract with ICE,” said Christina Fialho, Executive Direct at Community Initiatives for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement (CIVIC).
"We commend the City for taking a bold first step in protecting some of the most vulnerable members of its community. Sanctuary policies ensure that residents feel safe calling the police and accessing basic public services, and help prevent racial profiling and due process violations. We urge the City to move swiftly towards codifying its commitment to equality and inclusion into law, as is its right under the Tenth Amendment. Meanwhile, we must continue to push on other fronts to help families prepare for attacks on immigrants that will come from the federal level,” said Daniel Werner, Second Year Law Student at UC Irvine School of Law Immigrant Rights Clinic.
"This is a proud accomplishment for the City of Santa Ana, which has taken a lead role, not only in Orange County but also the state of California, expressing explicit commitment to protecting immigrants as a matter of law. We believe that all human beings have inherent worth and dignity, and thus being targeted for deportation is anathema to all faith traditions. We commend Santa Ana for holding the line,” said Rabbi Jonathan D. Klein, Executive Director at Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice: Building a Just and Sacred Society (CLUE).
“Last night showed us that the community of Santa Ana is here to stay, and here to thrive. With overwhelming support, our city will be a national leader in the fight for not only protecting our immigrant communities, but also creating opportunities for community wealth building for a healthier, more inclusive Santa Ana. We lift up the leadership of elected officials who stepped up as partners in these efforts,” said Ana Urzua, Campaign Coordinator at Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities.