001[Music] Good afternoon everyone. It is a privilege to serve you as your representative for the Santa Cruz County Schools Board. I was born in Watsonville, where I currently live. My parents are from Michoacán and they immigrated when I was in my mother's womb. They came here, they worked in the fields, they worked in the lunch counter, in the mushroom farm, as a packer. I know what it's like to live in fear of being separated from your family. I know what it's like as a child to see the day get dark and not see your mom come home. I know what it's like to cry with the thought that without her I would be alone. And that is why , for that reason, I stand before you today in support of the students, families, and immigrant
002communities of the central coast. We know that students cannot learn when they live in fear, and what we see around us is a campaign of injustice and intimidation that is real and terrifying. Families are skipping graduations, staying home from work, and avoiding essential services like healthcare and food distribution. A contributor alerted us last week that they saw attendance drop below 75%. In other words, three out of four families chose hunger over the risk of separation. We are witnessing a trauma promoted by the government itself, and the effects on our children could last a lifetime. This is intolerable. Today I am here to send a clear message that the Santa Cruz County Education Board and our County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ferry Sabá, are fully committed to standing with immigrant students and families. Last week we
003condemned the militarization in Los Angeles. We reaffirm that every student, regardless of their immigration status, has the right to a safe and inclusive education. We fight to ensure that schools remain safe and welcoming spaces. That's why schools in California do not ask for information about immigration status or cooperate with immigration authorities. We are also working with school districts and a broad coalition of allies in the Santa Cruz County Migration Alliance to keep our families informed and prepared . At the beginning of this year we launched the website susderechos.infosderechos.info INFO, a resource portal in Spanish. There, families from across the region can find legal resources, childcare safety plans , answers to common questions, and much more. Today we call on every school district, public agency, and elected official in California to join us in raising our
004voices in support of immigrant communities and rejecting fear tactics. This is the time to stand up for our students, our families, and the values we deeply cherish on the Central Coast. Thank you for your attention and may God watch over and protect you. [Applause]