Trump wins, California’s Central Valley was already planning to act

FRESNO, California – As political campaigns were in full swing in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 general election, a conversation was already beginning in California’s Central Valley as part of a subsequent contingency plan for what then seemed like a “possible scenario” and is now a reality: Donald Trump’s second win as president of the United States.

The conversation, held in Fresno on Sept. 27, brought together dozens of representatives from local entities and organizations to form and strengthen collaborative ties that will result in strategically supporting the well-being of the immigrant community as the post-election impact of Tuesday’s election begins to unfold. It was also an opportunity to identify potential threats and possible opportunities, plan defense strategies and renew or restructure rapid response networks with precedent set by the scenario that played out across the country following Trump’s 2016 election.

Sukaina Hussain, associate director of Strategic Initiatives at the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) and event moderator, recalled that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids “came at the immigrant community” in 2016, so this time, about 15 contingency events like the one held in Fresno were taking place across California “to talk about our capacity, strengths and priorities, and the opportunities and barriers to achieving those priorities after the election has passed.” At that time, she said, “the scenarios are not predictable, but they’re possible.”

Hussain went on to mention the reasons for these contingency meetings, among them, “to identify the specific threats and barriers that are experienced in this precise region of California’s Central Valley in order to get them in perspective and meet priorities” and to “access collective power and develop a strategic plan at the statewide level,” that is, at a level that also benefits immigrant communities throughout California.

At the open roundtable, attendees shared their observations and what they learned from Trump’s previous term while coming up with the following list of points to consider in creating a strategic plan on behalf of the immigrant community, all of this in the midst of what they see as not only challenging in the wake of Trump’s victory, but a unique situation for California’s Central Valley region:

— The fear that may be felt among immigrant families, including children, and the immigrant community in general.

— The need to rein in hate narratives (including those circulating on social media).

— The threat of mass deportations, separation of families, even the separation of US citizens from their loved ones who are undocumented.

— The possible use of the National Guard.

— The repercussions threatening agriculture, food production and the supply chain that allows locally grown produce to be shipped from California’s Central Valley to the table in homes across the country, so it could be an impact not only locally, but nationally.

— Access to education, regardless of immigrant status.

— The inefficient work that sometimes distinguishes the media given that last time, with Trump as president, certain media outlets scared people more than they helped when the information disseminated lacked clarity or veracity.

— An increased risk of labor exploitation as immigrants fearful of deportation are expected to hide in the shadows rather than seek help when they need it, with potentially less or no resources available to organizations and legal counsel entities trying to help them.

Other recommendations included adding the support of the Mexican Consulate in Fresno and its “Consulate on Wheels,” which brings legal consulting services, resources and information to places where the community needs it, whether at community fairs or similar events; to conduct a free and immediate distribution of the so-called “red cards” informing people of their rights in case they are detained by an immigration agent; and to create a “resource map” for the defense of people detained in deportation or removal cases, linking attorneys (the first responders) with the immigration courts involved in the Central Valley area, specifically the courts in San Francisco, Concord and Sacramento.

All of the issues and concerns discussed at the Sept. 27 meeting will be brought back to the table at the next coalition meeting to be held in Sacramento at a date and location yet to be determined. This was an event convened by the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC), the Immigrant Legal Resource Center of Central California (ILRC) and the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC).