County of Santa Clara Proactively Prepares for Trump Threats Against Immigrants, Other Communities

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – The County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on Tuesday took protective measures in anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump’s stated plans when he takes office in January, including setting aside $5 million in funds to help defend immigrants and doing a pre-inaugural deep dive into how the County can best prepare for the incoming administration and its threats to vulnerable communities.

The $5 million in funding is in addition to an existing allocation of nearly $6 million in annual funding to support the legal needs of the County’s diverse immigrant communities. The Board also opted to temporarily streamline the approval process for using these funds, delegating authority to the County Executive to negotiate and execute agreements with various entities such as nonprofit and community organizations that provide aid to the immigrant community. 

Board President Susan Ellenberg said that while it is impossible to know exactly what potentially harmful initiatives will be coming in with the new administration next year, the threats are real and severe and call for a bold response.

“Our next president has been very forthcoming about some intentions both through his words and his cabinet selections,” Ellenberg said. “We know we will need to be nimble, and this funding offers that ability when it comes to resources that can be invested in efforts to protect our community.” 

These efforts may include, but are not limited to: 

• Immigration legal support, including to prevent family separation
• Education efforts to inform residents of their legal rights 
• Rapid response efforts to protect immigrant families from deportation threats 
• Funding to offset filing fees for immigration applications
• Outreach to encourage access to needed medical care 
• Robust communication efforts to promote trust in County services 
• General support to promote the safety and health of all County residents 

 “We need to be prepared and be able to act quickly to support our entire community.  Even the fear of deportation and other immigration actions can have harmful effects on the safety and wellbeing of immigrants and their families,” said County of Santa Clara County Executive James R. Williams, who brought the funding item to the Board for approval. “It may also have a chilling effect on residents’ willingness to access needed services, including critical County safety-net services. Our message is clear: The County’s values remain steadfast and everyone in our community will continue to be welcome for all County services.” 

Also at Tuesday’s Board meeting, Supervisor Sylvia Arenas asked administration to identify additional proactive protective measures in the wake of the presidential election, calling it an “existential threat” for many residents in Santa Clara County.

Arenas’ referral directs administration to put together an extensive report to come back to the Board before the presidential inauguration that covers a host of topics including:

• Options for increasing funding and resources to support vulnerable communities 
• Additional staffing in County offices that support affected populations 
• Options to expand programs that defend against deportations 
• An analysis of County contracts relevant to new threats 
• Meeting and partnering with affected community organizations
• A confidential report on federal funding and agreements 
• Immigration rights outreach in workplaces 
• Preparation for increased incidents of religious, racial, gender and xenophobic bigotry

“LGBTQ residents may face new restrictions on free speech and freedom of information,” Arenas said. “Women are looking at threats to their reproductive health and freedom, while those born in another country have renewed fears of deportation and separation from their children. And those who have faced systemic racism or have been exposed to bigotry and violence may see these kinds of threats rekindled – that means anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia.” 

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Santa Clara County is one of the most diverse communities in the nation, with the largest share of immigrant residents of any of California’s 58 counties. More than 40% of Santa Clara County residents — an estimated 773,000 community members — were born outside of the United States, 50% of households include at least one immigrant, and 54% of residents speak a language other than English at home.

The County’s diversity is a core asset that has served the community extraordinarily well, with immigrants greatly contributing to the strong local economy. Crime rates are low and health outcomes positive when compared with other counties due to the diversity and vibrancy of the region.  

“As a safety-net organization, the County has a responsibility to support the wellbeing and safety of all our residents in their time of need,” said Supervisor Joe Simitian. “The range of concerns is broad, and the County needs to be mindful of the fact that potential impacts cut across a wide swath of the County’s work, and we need to make sure we look across the entire range of County responsibilities that may be affected.”

Supervisors pointed to the County’s track record on defending the community from the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts.

“This County has made it clear that we do not agree with or support federal efforts targeting immigrants, with longstanding noncooperation policies in place,” said newly sworn-in Supervisor Betty Duong. “Before I came to the Board, I was here as a staff member and can say we have the best board and leadership to guide us through the next four years.”

Supervisor Otto Lee said he would like to see other jurisdictions take similar measures.

“One thing we can say about our incoming president is that he’s not being secretive about his plans,” Lee said. “That gives us the opportunity to prepare as best we can from what we know is coming. We would love to see more counties and cities make a prudent initial investment toward safeguarding their communities.” 

During the first Trump administration, the County funded immigration legal services and programs to educate the community about their rights, and also implemented the Rapid Response Network – a community defense project developed to protect immigrant families from deportation threats. 

“Today, the County reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to ensuring all residents, regardless of immigration status, have access to the critical services they need,” said County Chief Operating Officer Greta Hansen. “This fundamental and core community value will not waiver in the face of threats and hostility to immigrants from the incoming federal administration.” 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

María Leticia Gómez / Eric Kurhi, Office of Communications and Public Affairs

408-299-5119, [email protected]