Immigration ad hoc committee

Supported the committee as a first step and suggested leasing city buildings to nonprofits, ICE-free zones, and know-your-rights workshops.

A student who asked the council to formally establish the committee, citing 435 ICE detentions in Santa Maria, and asked for transparency from the police chief.

Spoke in Spanish and English urging the committee, including FOIA requests to ICE, know-your-rights workshops, and city buildings for immigrant services.

Spoke of fear of family separation and urged ICE-free zones, citing the 435 detentions in the city.

Representing United Domestic Workers, argued much can be done at the city level and shared academic resources on municipal immigrant integration.

A youth coordinator who said silence is complicity and described students afraid to stay after school for activities.

A high school student who said peers fear for their parents' return more than they worry about college; asked the committee be led by Soto and Flores.

A District 2 resident who noted the November postponement and suggested community members serve on the committee, citing Oxnard's model.

A youth advocate who drew historical parallels to the treatment of minority groups and urged the council to act.

A single mother of four who described fears of family separation and asked the council to support the immigrant community.

Said she was disappointed no staff report was given, accused the council of procedural delays, and suggested hiring a trained paid interpreter.

A legal representative with MICOP who commended the all-women council and asked for the committee, know-your-rights workshops, and city buildings for pro bono attorneys.

A 34-year Army veteran who cited scripture on welcoming the stranger and said arrests without judicial warrants withhold justice.

A MICOP organizer who urged firm actions prohibiting use of municipal resources for immigration enforcement.

A District 4 MICOP outreach worker who asked the council to take action, not words, saying children are most impacted.

A MICOP organizer who shared the story of 'Maria,' whose husband was arrested at work, to illustrate family impacts of enforcement.

A civic engagement coordinator who asked for the committee led by Soto and Flores and noted a growing base of Latino and indigenous voters.

A CAUSE policy advocate and District 1 voter who thanked Soto for details and asked for ICE-free zones, building allocations, and know-your-rights workshops.

A CAUSE youth member who cited 671 countywide ICE arrests and 435 in Santa Maria and asked the council to vote yes.

A high school student who directly criticized the mayor's leadership, saying five months without action is a choice, and offered solutions learned in a week.

A rapid response volunteer who asked the council to instill school-district values of respect and belonging into any policies, and described danger while documenting ICE activity.

Returned to describe 160 detentions in four days after Christmas and what she called unprofessional ICE conduct; supported the committee.

A District 3 resident who urged ICE-free zones with signage, FOIA requests, and a committee led by Soto and Flores with community voices.

A local immigration attorney who described an alleged sexual assault in ICE custody reported by a community member and urged the council to act.

Speaking for the IHSS caregivers union, he asked the council to form an immigration ad hoc committee, noting a quarter of his union's members are immigrants.

An Indivisible organizer who said the committee effort is now a missed opportunity, argued Santa Maria has an ICE problem rather than an MS-13 problem, and announced a No Kings protest on March 28.

Disputed the mayor's characterization of protests as violent, described his group's cooperation with police, and criticized the council for ignoring the committee request.

A 50-year resident and immigrant who cited Cal Lutheran economic data showing undocumented immigrants contribute $3.8 billion to Santa Barbara County GDP.

A CASA organizer who criticized the mayor's prior comments about ICE officers and urged the council to create the committee.

A MICOP organizer who described visiting families separated by deportations and asked for real protections beyond the existing resolution.

A local high school student who shared that her uncle was detained and deported by ICE without warning, and urged the council to agendize the committee.

A youth program coordinator and 805 Immigrant Coalition member who criticized the rejection of suggested resolution edits and the mayor's comments.

A first-time speaker who questioned what the February 3 resolution actually changed and urged the council to agendize the committee.

A MICOP program director described supporting families after arrests and deportations and asked for the committee and action.

A MICOP organizer said laws should protect every resident and asked the council to form the committee.

A MICOP organizer supported the committee proposal credited to Councilmember Soto and said a resolution alone is not enough.

A MICOP organizer and 25-year resident urged the committee, noting Councilmember Soto raised it months ago and citing FOIA practices in other cities.

A local high school student said youth shouldn't have to beg leaders for basic safety and urged a vote.

A Pioneer Valley student shared a friend whose father was detained and pressed Councilmember Flores to act, noting the item was tabled four months ago.

A CAUSE advocate detailed proposed committee actions — FOIA requests, ICE-free zones, permit processes — and cited 401 detentions in Santa Maria.

An attorney and American GI Forum commander complimented the council's efforts and offered his organization's support.

A retired teacher and Indivisible member described witnessing a neighbor's violent ICE arrest and urged an ad hoc committee for transparency.

A Future Leaders of America student leader asked the council to establish an immigration ad hoc committee, describing classmates' fear of family separation.

A parent organizer with Future Leaders of America described daily calls from frightened parents needing help with errands and urged the council to act like neighboring cities.

Called for an ad hoc committee on immigration and community safety, citing fear in schools and workplaces.

An Indivisible leader urged an immigration ad hoc committee and shared fears for his autistic Latino grandson's safety walking to school.

Repeated his request for an ad hoc committee, listed neighboring cities that have acted, and gifted the council monarch butterfly art from a recent protest.

An organizer with the Mixteco Indigenous project said his community is terrorized and asked the council to act, not just speak.

A wage theft navigator with MICOP described separated families and asked the council to side with justice and humanity.

A youth program coordinator urged an ad hoc committee, saying continued postponement puts families at risk.

Deputy director of the Fund for Santa Barbara, urged the council to form the committee as the minimum step toward leadership.

A MICOP organizer described children's anxiety over possible family separation and asked for a clear council stance.