MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) — Solidarity Network Monterey County held a two-hour public workshop for those who want to respond to potential ICE raids in Seaside and Monterey County. Immigration allies, lawyers and migrants attended the training.
Solidarity Network Monterey County volunteers acted out scenarios of what it would be like encountering an ICE agent and how to properly stand one’s ground. The group is entirely volunteer-based — with the goal to provide support for migrants.
The attendees were a mix of migrant allies, city leaders, local educators, unions and immigration lawyers.
“This is really touching my heart because when you see all of us together, the diversity of this group, that we are in this together to try and find support for our community members,” said Sonia Jamarillo of Solidarity Network Monterey County.
As a former immigrant from Mexico, Jamarillo says she knows how frightening it can be coming to a new country for undocumented people. With the Trump administration in power, she says it’s been overwhelming — to say the least — for migrants.
“We see our community struggling, our immigrants are hard-working families. Families who are providing for their children, working extra hard to have a better life,” Jamarillo said.
Magnolia Zarraga is a member of the group, as well as an immigration lawyer. She says her goal is to teach migrants what their rights are in the U.S.
“The concern is being picked up! Being picked up by immigration in the middle of the night, in the middle of the day, so we are educating them what their rights are,” Zarraga said.
The group was established back in 2017 and recently re-grouped because of the current U.S. political climate and because Zarraga says Monterey County has a large immigration population.
Zarraga says migrants create stronger communities and make up the fabric of Monterey’s Seaside neighborhood. She says the group will continue to schedule events like this.
“It gives me hope even though we are in dark times right now that together we can make a difference,” Zarraga said.
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) — Solidarity Network Monterey County held a two-hour public workshop for those who want to respond to potential ICE raids in Seaside and Monterey County. Immigration allies, lawyers and migrants attended the training. Solidarity Network Monterey County volunteers acted out scenarios of what it would be like encountering an ICE agent […]
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