‘Unjustly targeted’: Fresno city, county initiative to protect immigrants

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Amid rising concerns among the immigrant communities in Fresno County, two officials created the Immigrant Affairs Working Group to increase protections and guidance to those living in fear.

Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez and Fresno City Vice President Miguel Arias say due to recent federal actions that have increased fear amongst immigrant communities, school absences and farm labor distribution have seen record-high absences.

“Given the heightened anxiety from and fear within the immigrant community, it is essential that we take deliberate steps to alleviate their concerns. Our primary focus is to ensure the safety and protection of families and children, providing them with the reassurance they need,” said Chavez.

Officials say the collaborative City/County Immigration Affairs Working Group will bring together key stakeholders to ensure families remain together, coordinate policy efforts, support education and outreach, and secure state funding to support this critical work.

“As an immigrant who has experienced immigration raids in the Central Valley fields, I understand the fear and uncertainty that arises from the constant threat of deportation,” said Arias. “By fostering collaboration between the city and county, we can ensure that the same individuals who protected us from empty storage shelves during a pandemic have the same level of support throughout the region and are not unjustly targeted or adversely affected by harmful policies.”

City and county officials both recognize the invaluable contributions of immigrants across local businesses, agriculture, faith-based institutions, industries and all other sectors of the community.

““The Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC) is committed to joining these efforts and continue offering free immigration legal services, entrepreneurship training opportunities, and digital literacy courses, thereby contributing to the development of a dynamic economy that makes it possible to achieve socio-economic mobility,” said Jesus Martinez, executive director of CVIIC.

Officials say this initiative is in alignment with California’s SB54 which is committed to protecting and supporting immigrant communities, allowing them to continue to thrive without living in fear.