Tracy Lehr
GOLETA, Calif. – In the wake of recent ICE activities, the Goleta City Council voted unanimously to reprogram $100,000 to support services such as legal aid and defense and financial assistance to separated families.
The vote follows a four and half hour Special City Council Meeting called to discuss ICE activities under the President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security.
The council ultimately chose to reprogram $100,000 of the $250,000 from existing childcare initiatives.
That money will go to the Human Services Committee to determine how it will be allocated.
Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martin suggested the amount after sharing her story. Reyes-Martin said she was an immigrant and the daughter of a farmworker.
She said the people impacted by ICE activity in the community look like her and her children.
“Please see them, and support them, speak up for them, I have seen so many of our community members do that tonight, I am so proud of that,” said Reyes-Martin.
The city staff seemed well aware of the need for overflow seating.
They set up dozens of chairs and a video monitor in the parking lot, beneath solar panels, outside the council chambers.
During public comments, community members said they have seen ICE agents near businesses including 7/11 and laundromats. They have also seen them in neighborhoods.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch said the fear and anger is real.
He wants to make sure people know they can still reach out to local law enforcement and his office for help, however, he said they can’t stop ICE.
“We also can’t stop it, we can’t interfere with it either, but we will continue to do our job in the way that California requires us to do and that is with respect for everyone that calls Santa Barbara County home,” said Savrnoch.
He said he is not told when there will be ICE activity.
Diego Avila brought a megaphone that he has been using to warn community members.
“Trying to do something about it and this is one way showing up here, networking, connecting, making ourselves heard in this institution, so that is one way we can voice our opinions,” said Avila.
“I think it is really sad that we are having masked men just going out into the community and causing havoc,” said Cesar Trujllo, “I am a father and I have two daughters, a lot of women are afraid to leave their homes.”
Both men are part of a chapter of Union Del Barrio, based in San Diego, that tries to warn people about ICE activity.
“This is a good opportunity for our communities to unite and come together as a community as one,” said Trujillo.
The city also had an interpreter on hand to help those speaking and listening.
Julissa Peña told the council that Goleta and the Central Coast are sandwiched between ICE processing centers.
“One in north Santa Maria and we have Camarillo and so we feel so surrounded,” said Peńa, who serves as the Executive Director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC).
“Folks facing deportation proceedings cannot afford private attorneys and are not appointed government council,” said Peña.
They have five attorneys helping hundreds of people taken into custody by ICE.
Speakers said they worried about the Mixteco indigenous community members.
“We are now trying to figure out how to get families back together, a lot of people are reaching out to figure out how to do family prep planning,” said Josue Vasquez with the MICOP Legal Assistance Program.
Vasquez told the council about three local brothers missing their parents due to recent raids.
They are asking the city leaders to rise up and help the undocumented workers who are impacted by so-called collateral arrests during Enforcement and Removal Operations.
After hours of public comments, the Goleta City Council voted unanimously in favor a six-pronged approach to help those impacted by ICE raids.
The resolution from the council agenda posted online includes the following:
Work closely with regional partners, including the County of Santa Barbara and nearbysouth county cities to formulate a consistent message and any collaborative actionitems. Pertinent information and any updated guidance are important to regularlydisseminate throughout the community.
Submit Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests on the federal government,seeking access to ICE records on raids and enforcement actions conducted within theCity. Staff would seek information about recent operations in the area to betterunderstand what activities have occurred, when and where such activities haveoccurred, and who has been subject to such activities, among other items.
Follow, support and advocate for state legislation aimed at addressing recent ICEactivities. The following state bills (which may be subject to change) are currentlyunder consideration, and, with Council direction, the City can send official letters ofsupport.
Work with the region’s federal representatives, including U.S. Representative SaludCarbajal, to follow and support federal legislative and administrative efforts aimed ataddressing the way ICE activities are occurring, including:a. S.2212 (Padilla) — 119th Congress (2025-2026). A bill to amend section 287of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require all immigration enforcementofficers to display visible identification during public-facing immigrationenforcement actions and to promote transparency and accountability.
Track lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other entitiesand nonprofits aimed at protecting the community from tactics employed by ICEalleged to be unlawful.
Provide funding to local nonprofit organizations who are providing frontline assistanceto those affected by ICE activities. Services that City Council may wish to supportcould include legal defense, mental health services, and direct services or financialassistance.a. Any funding assistance to a nonprofit organization that provides services tocommunity members impacted by ICE activities serves a broad public purpose,with only incidental private benefit, consistent with the California Constitution.
For more information visit https://www.cityofgoleta.org
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