Since taking office, President Trump has signed 10 executive orders on immigration aimed at increasing border security, sparking anxiety in immigrant communities—including those living here in Mendocino County. California has around 2 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom work in agriculture, one of the largest industries in Mendocino County.
Although Mendocino County has not been designated an official sanctuary county, it falls under the jurisdiction of California’s sanctuary law, which has made the state a haven for millions of undocumented immigrants. California enacted its sanctuary law in 2017, when Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act, limiting local police and certain public entities, such as schools, medical facilities and courthouses, from coordinating with ICE officials on deportations.
But the law does not regulate what federal officials can do within a state because federal law overrides state law under the constitution’s Supremacy Clause. This means ICE officials can still deport undocumented immigrants, even if state law prohibits local officers from working with federal agents.
President Trump’s recent orders to increase deportation efforts have sparked anxiety throughout immigrant communities, affecting mental health and well-being.
Redwood Community Radio, KMUD, has just suffered a devastating blow with the loss of roughly 25% of our annual operating budget due to the...
