Non-cooperation with ICE Resolution Passes Watsonville City Council

The Watsonville City Council meeting was packed on May 8th with attendees in support of a resolution requesting the suspension of random detentions and arrests of residents in Watsonville. An emotional public comment period lasted over an hour with the crowd bursting into chanting "si se puede" after on particularly moving commentary. Personal testimonies and comments ranged from accounts of "three days and three nights" of crossing the border to teachers sharing emotional stories of students distracted and wondering when the migra, or immigration enforcement, was going to come and take away them or their parents.

Migrawatch, a newly formed network of immigrants rights organizations, called for supporters of immigrant rights to speak up and demand that two clauses be added to the resolution before the council vote. The first clause to make the City of Watsonville a "sanctuary" for undocumented people similar to other cities around the country offering a safe space for members of the community. The second amendment sought by activists was a "notification" clause. Since it has become widely known the federal immigration enforcers notify local police departments, communities could be given advance warning before ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids the community. Some speakers referred to the raids as domestic terrorism by our own government and that for this reason the council should adopt a policy of notification as part of the "War on Terror" so that a human rights organization could come and document the raids and prevent unnecessary harm to the community

The room was packed at the Watsonville City Council chambers on Tuesday May 8. Attendees were there to comment on one of the evening's agenda items, a resolution Requesting the Suspension of Random Detentions & Arrests of Residents in Watsonville.

An emotional public comment period lasted for over an hour with the crowd bursting into chanting "si se puede" after on particularly moving commentary. Personal testimonies and comments ranged from accounts of "three days and three nights" of crossing the border to teachers sharing emotional stories of students distracted and wondering when the migra, or immigration enforcement, was going to come and take away them or their parents.

Migrawatch, a newly formed network of immigrants rights organizations, called for supporters of immigrant rights to speak up and demand that two clauses be added to the resolution before the council vote. The first clause to make the City of Watsonville a "sanctuary" for undocumented people similar to other cities around the country offering a safe space for members of the community. The second amendment sought by activists was a "notification" clause. Since it has become widely known the federal immigration enforcers notify local police departments, communities could be given advance warning before ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids the community. Some speakers referred to the raids as domestic terrorism by our own government and that for this reason the council should adopt a policy of notification as part of the "War on Terror" so that a human rights organization could come and document the raids and prevent unnecessary harm to the community.

After the public comment period and some council discussion, Council Member Oscar Rios moved to amend the resolution to include the clause stating that Watsonville be a "sanctuary" for undocumented persons. No Council members supported adding the notification clause to the resolution.

With the Watsonville City Slogan as a backdrop, "Opportunity Through Diversity, Unity Through Cooperation," the council proceeded to vote. Though originally introduced by Mayor Bersamin, Oscar Rios and Antonio Rivas, only two of them ended up voting "yes" on the resolution; Council member Rivas changed to a "no" vote after the sanctuary clause was added to the resolution. Council Member Greg Caput voted "yes" surprising the crowd, joining Mayor Bersamin, Mayor Pro Tempore Kimberly Petersen, and Oscar Rios. In addition to the no vote from Antonio Rivas, Dale Skillicorn and Edward Din voted against passing the resolution bringing the final count to 4-3 in favor of passage.