As Federal immigration operations swell, lawmakers with the City and County of Fresno are joining forces to launch a collaborative immigration working group to assist immigrant residents of the area.
Monday, Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez and Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias announced the launch of their Immigrant Affairs Working Group.
The big picture: This initiative aims to provide guidance and support to Fresno’s immigrant population and will focus on developing strategies to promote family unity, policy coordination, education, outreach, and securing state funding to assist immigrant residents.
- Collaboration between the City and County is seen as crucial in providing consistent support for local immigrants and easing their concerns.
What they’re saying: In the announcement, Arias and Chavez emphasized the significant role that immigrants play in Fresno’s economy and culture, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they were essential in maintaining the national food supply chain.
- Arias, drawing from his own experiences as an immigrant who faced immigration raids in the Central Valley fields, voiced understanding of the fear and uncertainty stemming from the constant threat of deportation. He underscored the need to ensure that immigrants who contributed to preventing shortages during the pandemic receive steadfast support and are shielded from unjust targeting or adverse effects of harmful policies.
- “A joint working group will play a crucial role in ensuring that we are collaborating effectively with the City, fostering an environment of support and efficiency,” Chavez said. “Given the heightened anxiety and fear within the immigrant community, it is essential that we take deliberate steps to alleviate their concerns.”
- The Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC) has expressed its backing for the establishment of the working group.
- “The joint collaboration between the City of Fresno, the County of Fresno, and participating agencies reflects a recognition of the economic, social, and cultural significance of immigration to our region, as well as underscoring the value of our immigrant residents. CVIIC is committed to joining these efforts and continue offering free immigration legal services, entrepreneurship training opportunities, and digital literacy courses, thereby contributing to the development of a dynamic economy that makes it possible to achieve socio-economic mobility.”
