MONTEREY, Calif. — On Tuesday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors officially established an Immigrations’ Rights Ad Hoc Committee to support the county’s immigrant population. The committee will be led by Supervisors Luis Alejo and Chris Lopez.
With nearly one-third of Monterey County residents born outside the United States, the creation of this committee comes at a critical time. The new administration, set to take office on January 20, has raised concerns about potential policy changes that could disrupt the lives of many local families.
“With a new federal court and uncertain policies ahead, these changes could result in families losing loved ones or primary breadwinners,” said Alejo, the supervisor for District 1. He emphasized that the impact could be particularly severe for industries that rely heavily on immigrant workers, such as agriculture and hospitality.
Alejo also noted that local leaders are already mobilizing to prepare for possible challenges. “We have support from leaders in agriculture, hospitality, and law enforcement,” he said. “There’s a strong group of people ready to step up.”
Among those involved in the committee is immigration attorney Chris Cain. “This is something I already deal with daily in my practice,” Cain said. People come to us with concerns about their immigration status and available options.
The committee’s goals include:
Collaborating with county leaders to protect immigrant communities.
Developing “Know Your Rights” materials to educate residents.
Reassuring immigrants that local resources will not be used for federal immigration enforcement.
Supporting legal efforts to protect immigrant rights in federal courts.
Alejo stressed that the county recognizes the contributions of its
immigrant families, saying, “They are hard-working, paying taxes, and contributing to our community. We don’t want to see our neighbors targeted by federal immigration actions.”
Monterey County receives approximately $232 million in federal funding, and Alejo reaffirmed the county’s commitment to challenging any attempts to reduce these funds.
In addition to the committee’s creation, the Board of Supervisors approved several actions, including:
Producing and distributing “Know Your Rights” materials and cards.
Updating the county’s welcoming resolutions in early January.
Joining federal litigation efforts to defend immigrants’ rights.
Sending a letter supporting the state’s request for $25 million to enhance litigation efforts and $15 million to fund nonprofits assisting immigrants.
Organizing four “Know Your Rights” forums in Salinas, North County, South County, and the Peninsula.
Asking the California State Association of Counties to create an Immigration Working Group for greater collaboration among counties concerned about immigrant rights.
The new committee’s work is aimed at safeguarding immigrant communities in Monterey County as federal policies continue to evolve.
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