Marin County supervisors and others are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s stated policy to deport undocumented immigrants.County supervisors adopted a resolution ahead of Monday’s inauguration “affirming commitment to democracy and community.” The resolution stated the supervisors “unwavering support for the rights, freedoms, and interests of all members of our diverse communities, regardless of identity, background, or immigration status.”
“By reaffirming our commitment to democracy, justice, and the rule of law, we send a clear message that Marin is a community where every individual is valued,” said Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, whose district includes western Marin and San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood, which hosts a large Latino community.
The resolution states that the supervisors affirm “every individual in our community — regardless of race, gender identity, age, ability, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status or other identity — equally deserves safety, security, inclusion, respect, dignity and freedom of expression.”
Conversely, it says that supervisors oppose “all forms of discrimination, including sexism, racism, ageism, ableism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, religious intolerance and xenophobia.”
In a statement, Supervisor Eric Lucan, said, “The support we will continue to show all Marin residents didn’t change on election day and it won’t change on inauguration day, or in the years ahead.”
In his inaugural speech on Monday, President Trump said he would declare a national emergency at the southern border and mobilize the military to the border.
Policy statements issued by the boards of the Miller Creek School District and Community Action Marin, a San Rafael nonprofit, were even more explicit in their intent to address the issue.
In its statement, Community Action Marin’s board wrote, “Immigration is an intrinsic part of the human experience and protection from discrimination or persecution based on immigration status is a human right.”
The statement goes on to say that Community Action Marin “acknowledges that we are operating on indigenous land” and that “all those who are not indigenous are immigrants to the United States arriving through voluntary migration or forced migration.”
“It is vital to acknowledge the racist foundations upon which many of the United States’ political, legal, and economic institutions were built and continue to operate,” the statement said. “We face a historical opportunity and moral responsibility to address the continued existence and long-term effects of racial inequity and systemic racism in ourselves, our organizations, institutions, and communities.”
Marin County Public Defender David Sutton said his office had participated in eight “know your rights” teach-ins over the last 60 days so that immigrant community members would have the “vital information to protect their constitutional rights in the face of a change in administration.”
Sutton said his office had also partnered with the Marin County Office of Education to provide educators facing “potential federal enforcement within schools” with similar information.
“That webinar was attended by over 300 educators in Marin representing every single school district in Marin County,” Sutton said.
In north San Rafael, Miller Creek School District, whose trustees passed a resolution on Jan. 14, the same day as the supervisors, affirmed the “dignity and worth” of every individual “regardless of their immigration status, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.”
The school board also stated in its resolution that the district “will not collect or disclose information regarding the immigration status of students, staff or families unless required by law nor will it facilitate or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement activities in any way that is not mandated by federal or state law.”
In western Marin, Marin residents demonstrated their solidarity with undocumented immigrants on Monday by participating in marches in Point Reyes Station, San Geronimo and Bolinas. The marches were organized by West Marin Community Services.
“We’re all trying to stand in solidarity with the Latino community,” said Carlos Porrata, West Marin Community Services executive board president.
Porrata said he is concerned about the fate of Latino farmworkers who are set to be displaced due to a legal settlement that will result in the closure of six ranches and six dairies located inside Point Reyes National Seashore.
During a public meeting organized by Rep. Jared Huffman this month to discuss the settlement, Porrata said the farmworkers, some of whom are undocumented, face a triple whammy.
“They might lose their housing; they might lose their jobs, and, as a matter of fact, they might get deported,” Porrata said, “because Trump is coming in.”
According to the settlement agreement, the agricultural operations are required to close within 15 months, and all of the farmworkers and other people living on the dairies and farms must leave.
Marin supervisors chose not to involve the county in the legal proceedings that led up to the settlement agreement. Now, however, according to the Nature Conservancy, which is buying out the dairies and ranches, Marin County is considering a financial contribution to help soften the blow to the farmworkers.
News outlets have reported, without identifying its sources, that $2.5 million will be provided to aid the people who will be displaced. Michael Bell, an official with the Nature Conservancy, said last week that his organization had raised about $1 million so far and was talking with the county about the possibility of a financial contribution.
Marin County Executive Derek Johnson did not respond to a query regarding the contribution, but said at last week’s supervisors’ meeting: “I do want to acknowledge and appreciate this board and the authority that they’ve provided to my office to now start thinking in earnest about what we can do for West Marin.”