Dear District 5 Resident,

The escalation of immigration enforcement actions — including the fatal shooting of another Minnesota resident by federal immigration agents this weekend — are deeply troubling and heartbreaking. These tactics create fear, trauma, and instability for families everywhere, especially in communities of color who are being racially targeted by immigration agents.

What we are seeing across the country should put us on notice. We don’t know if or when a large-scale immigration activity will come to the Bay Area or Santa Cruz County, but we need to be prepared.

That is why I brought forth a proposal to establish a Board subcommittee, along with District 4 Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, that will coordinate with County staff and regional partners on how we prepare for and respond to enforcement activity that may affect our residents.

The subcommittee is called S.H.I.E.L.D. (Safeguard Health, Inclusion, Essential Services, and Local Defense) and was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors at Tuesday's meeting.

S.H.I.E.L.D. makes sure we are not reacting in a moment of crisis without a coordinated, lawful, and well-thought-out plan. It is about local preparedness — not rhetoric or symbolic action — and taking real concrete steps to turn our values into action.

Specifically, I will work with departments to:

• Strengthen internal coordination and response planning
• Ensure staff know protocols if enforcement actions occur at or near County facilities
• Protect continued access to essential County services
• Identify practical steps that can be taken under existing authority
• Bring vetted policy recommendations back to the full Board where broader action is needed

S.H.I.E.L.D. builds upon the County’s long-standing record of protecting its immigrant community and complements the extraordinary work happening by local organizations, educators, healthcare providers, faith leaders, and immigrant advocates. It’s the County’s role to ensure that we are using every tool within our authority to support the work on the ground and protect access to essential services.

At the end of the day, this is about people. It is about families who want to feel safe taking their kids to school, going to work, and seeking care when they need it. Our job is to make sure our local systems are ready to support them, especially in moments of fear and uncertainty. That is the responsibility in front of us.

I will continue to do everything I can to keep our residents safe. I am grateful to be part of a community that really shows up and cares about each other, and this makes Santa Cruz County what it is.

Let’s continue to do it together.

In community,