Santa Clara County / CALIFORNIA
This week, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution affirming its support of Central American refugee children and mothers as news surfaced in early May of a 30-day “surge” in immigrations raids.
The resolution reiterates the County’s commitment to protecting Central American refugees and urges President Obama to designate Guatemala for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and to extend the designations of El Salvador and Honduras before they expire later this year. The resolution coincides with the Board’s adoption of a proclamation declaring June as Immigrant Heritage Month.
“Our County has and will always be a welcoming place for all immigrants including the Central American children and women refugees affected by these senseless raids. I urge President Obama to heed our County’s call and protect them from returning to a place where many await unfortunate circumstances,” said President Dave Cortese, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. “This lack of compassion and understanding is not in our American spirit as a nation of immigrants.”
Earlier in May, news outlets reported that U.S. immigration officials were planning a month-long series of raids of immigrants who entered the country illegally, and minors who entered the country without a guardian and have now turned 18 years of age. The 30-day “surge” is the second wave of immigration raids that began in January over a two-day period, which resulted in the detention of 121 people, mostly women and children from Central America.
County supervisors continue to voice their concern about these actions and to renew their commitment to make Santa Clara County a welcoming home to all newcomers.
