Monterey, Santa Cruz Counties declared “dreamers county”

UPDATE 9/12/2017 6:05 p.m.:

A historic day for the Central Coast with Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties declaring themselves “dreamers counties” on Tuesday. County leaders believe this designation is the first in the nation.

In Santa Cruz County, the board of supervisors unanimously voted to say they welcome dreamers to the county, whether it’s in the workforce, schools or colleges. Supervisors also approved a plan to write a letter to Congress urging them to pass the Dream Act.

Monterey County’s resolution is similar.

“It not only sends a message to the young people that we’re going to fight and standup for them, but it’s also important that local governments speak out and tell their Congress members, expressing their urgency to act in the next few months,” Supervisor Luis Alejo said.

There are more than 230,000 people in California that are eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. It is for people under 16 who were illegally brought to the United States to work and go to school without worry of deportation. Participants cannot have a felony conviction or been convicted of three misdemeanors or one serious misdemeanor.

Last week, the Trump Administration said it would end the program in six months. But states, including California are already suing the government over that decision. Santa Cruz County is looking to see if the county can join a lawsuit filed by the University of California system last week. Monterey County is weighing its options.

“The board also requested during their consideration of that item, they requested county counsel to explore options to join either existing lawsuits or file our own lawsuit challenging the rescission of the DACA program by the Trump Administration,” Monterey County Counsel Charles McKee said.

Hartnell College student and DACA recipient Adriana Gonzalez is all for it. She has been in the United States since she was seven years old and said Salinas is the only home she really knows.

“It’s a different feeling to know that maybe what I call home might not be my home in the future so, it’s a scary thing,” Gonzalez said.

While she has a little more than a year left on her permit, she is making plans but doesn’t want to think about leaving her home.

“I want a life here and I think my economic contribution is definitely appreciated here and I feel happy that Monterey County has acted on our favor today,” Gonzalez said.

However, some on social media weren’t happy.

One user wrote: “These politicians are so corrupt. Don’t let them break the laws. Report any illigals [sic] or dreams to ICE immidiatly [sic] and keep a network of communication to get these illigals [sic] deported. Illigal [sic] trespassers are not above the law.”

Another questioned the supervisors’ priorities: “What about reducing crime in Monterey County? Too bad your efforts in reducing crime in Monterey County is not as aggressive as your support for those without legal status in the USA. Your obligation to help protect the citizens of the United States of America is far greater than assisting those here without legal status.”

UPDATE: 9/12/2017 12:39 p.m. The Board of Supervisors in Monterey County and Santa Cruz County unanimously approved a resolution declaring both counties a “Dreamers County.”

On Tuesday, the resolution declared the counties support for local undocumented young people known as Dreamers and urges Congress to act fast to enact legislation that will continue and codify the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals DACA Program.

“Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties are leading the nation in becoming the first Dreamers Counties,” said Supervisor Alejo. “Other cities and counties across the state are already planning to take similar action. I believe it will create the sense of urgency to have Congress act soon to pass legislation that will improve the lives of our Dreamers. Otherwise, we know the chances for action will diminish.”

Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold told KION, supervisors plan to write a letter to Congress where they show their support for Dreamers and urge them to pass the Dream Act.

Santa Cruz and Monterey County Supervisors will explore whether they can join the lawsuit that was filed by the University of California last week against the Trump administration for the elimination of DACA.

KION’s Mariana Hicks has the story at 5 and 6 p.m.

UPDATE 9/11/2017 5 p.m.:

Supervisor Luis Alejo plans to introduce the “dreamers county” resolution during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

The resolution would not only declare the county’s support for local undocumented young people, known as Dreamers, but it also declares itself a “Dreamers County” and urges Congress to act swiftly to enact legislation that will continue and codify the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.

“There’s many different ways we could be supporting our dreamers, our DACA recipients and I think this is going to be an important step towards that tomorrow,” Alejo said.

If approved, Monterey County would be the first of its kind to make such a declaration.

“I hope we see other cities and counties declaring themselves cities of dreamers and dreamer counties throughout the entire state because I think it creates a sense of urgency,” Alejo said. “We know that if Congress is going to act to pass the Dream Act, or codify DACA through legislation, it’s got to happen in the next few months.”

Some we spoke to were in support of preserving the program that has helped young undocumented people go to school and work.

“Especially the case when they’ve been here most their lives,” one man said. “They’re as American as I or anybody else who was born here. I think we should support them. It’s not an immigration issues, it’s a humanitarian issue. It’s about the American dream that we’re supposed to have. But the more they take away, the less that it exists. That’s just as true for them as it is for us. And if they take it away from them, what’s next?”

But reaction on social media was swift, sometimes severe.

One user wrote — “Monterey County needs (to) get a hold on its crime and homicide issues before it wants to take on more issues.”

Another suggested backing federal immigration laws — “How about Monterey County does the legally responsible thing and upholds the current immigration laws? That would be a nice change of pace.”

Alejo said billions of dollars are on the line if DACA goes away, because according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, more than 200,000 DACA recipients live in California.

ORIGINAL POST:

Monterey County may soon be the first in the nation to declare itself a “Dreamers County.”

Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo has submitted a resolution that will be considered next Tuesday, September 12th at the Monterey County Board of Supervisor meeting.

The resolution would not only declare the Counties’ support for local undocumented young people, known as Dreamers, but it also declares itself a “Dreamers County” and urges Congress to act swiftly to enact legislation that will continue and codify the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.

“Monterey County is home to thousands of young Dreamers and it is critical to declare our strong support for them especially after President Trump’s draconian action to rescind DACA,” said Supervisor Alejo. “Monterey County could become the first ‘Dreamers County’ in the country to express our strong commitment to our Dreamers and to let them know we will do all possible to support them and ensure that DACA becomes law once again.”