As President Donald Trump enters the Oval Office for a second term, many Valley immigrants and Latino families are bracing for big changes that could directly impact them over the next four years.
Although Trump has given some mixed signals on some immigration issues, such as H-1B visas and DACA recipients, he hasn’t backed away from promises to implement stringent immigration policies that could significantly impact Latinos and other communities.
These measures include mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship, and rescinding programs such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which currently shields nearly a million immigrants from deportation.
The fears of many in the immigrant community increased earlier this month as U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted operations in Kern County. Official estimates say 78 people were arrested, though community organizations have put the number closer to 200.
Prior to the Kern County operation, Gov. Gavin Newsom had mobilized state resources to counter these federal initiatives. He called for a special legislative session to fortify California’s legal defenses against anticipated federal actions targeting civil rights, immigration and environmental policies.
The state is allocating $25 million for potential legal battles and an additional $10 million to support district-level legal efforts.
Newsom’s administration also is drafting a plan to support undocumented immigrants facing potential mass deportations. This initiative includes creating an Immigrant Support Network comprising regional hubs to connect at-risk migrants with legal aid and community services.
California already is a “sanctuary state,” meaning local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from automatically transferring people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with a few exceptions.
As California braces for potential conflicts with the incoming administration, Latino elected officials in Merced County are preparing to navigate these challenges.
The Merced FOCUS in December reached out via email to Latino policymakers who represent parts of Merced County. We asked those legislators questions about what challenges Latinos and other immigrants may face over the next four years, and how they plan to respond.
Our questionnaires were answered by State Senator Anna Caballero, Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, Livingston Mayor Jose Moran, and State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil. Their responses are presented as submitted, in their entirety.