Immigrants and community advocates descended on Sacramento today with a clear demand of state lawmakers: create more protections for undocumented Californians. Advocates from across the state marched in the streets surrounding the state Capitol.
“Newsom, escucha, estamos en la lucha,” they chanted, which translates to “Newsom, listen, we are in the fight.”
The rally came weeks ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Trump has vowed to carry out mass deportations early in his term, which has frightened immigrant families and their supporters.
A rally participant holds a sign that reads “Families have no border” Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Sacramento.Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio
“Families could be separated,” said Sarah Lee, an advocate with ICE Out of California. “There could be so much targeting and use of our local resources to enact these deportation plans and so I think our legislators need to make sure that they stand up and strengthen the policies here in California.”
Rally organizers listed three main demands of Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers. First, they want Newsom to exercise his pardon power for immigrants who have served time to protect them from deportation. They also want the state to refrain from leasing or selling land that could be used for mass detention facilities, such as private prisons. Advocates also said they don’t want state funds used for deportation efforts.
“They need to stop investing our money into those things and instead [invest] into our communities,” said Hulissa Aguilar, an 18-year-old student at UC Berkeley.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Aguilar’s father when she was 12-years-old. She said the separation was difficult though the experience spurred her into action. She now advocates for other mixed-status families that face possible deportations.
“You know, when one person is deported, it’s not just them that’s affected, it is their loved ones that are also forced to have to suffer,” Aguilar said.
Hulissa Aguilar Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, at the State Capitol in Sacramento.Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio
Maria, who preferred not to share her full name because of her immigration status, said she was at the event to support immigrants because she believes they deserve basic human rights.
“There are still people here from Guatemala, Salvador, people who come here from poor countries where they can’t work and can barely survive,” she said in Spanish. “All of those people deserve to have an opportunity. Not just deporting them for no reason.”
She noted that the hatred towards immigrants in the United States is not something she sees in her home country of Mexico. She added that Americans in particular are well received when they visit.
“If you are welcome in my country, you should welcome us in yours,” she added.
Immigrants with a criminal record, including those who have served their time, are expected to be especially vulnerable to deportation under the new Trump administration.
Standing outside the Capitol, Sidthy Bin said he and his parents arrived in the United States in the 1980s as legal residents after surviving the Cambodian Civil War. Then as a teenager, Bin said he “made some poor decisions” and ended up incarcerated. Today, the Long Beach resident is an immigrant rights advocate who’s also seeking a pardon from Newsom.
“I have an active order of removal,” Bin explained. “I’m just waiting for that call. The anxiety is there. The stress is there. And I have a family here. I just got married a few months ago. I’m a grandpa of three.”
Sithy Bin, an immigrant rights advocate, during a rally Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, at the State Capitol. He called on the Newsom administration to refuse to participate in any mass deportation efforts led by President-elect Donald Trump.Chris Nichols/CapRadio
Bin and other advocates called on Newsom to refuse to cooperate with the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans.
“Our message to Governor Newsom is to stand with the immigrant community, stand with the people of California. We are here to make sure that none of the taxpaying money from California goes to funding that project to do mass deportation.”
During his run for the White House, President-elect Donald Trump promised to remove millions of unauthorized immigrants if elected.
Newsom and other top state Democrats have said they won’t cooperate with the removal efforts. They are also seeking state money to create a legal defense fund against possible federal actions they say could be unconstitutional.
As Newsom and lawmakers embark on a special session to protect California’s progressive values, advocates hope they will hear their demands.
Hundreds of people attended the rally to show support for immigrants Mondy, Dec. 2, 2024, in Sacramento.Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio
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