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Arevalo, Evelyn <br /> From: Maria Estela Valencia < <br /> Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 1:05 PM <br /> To: eComment <br /> Cc: Amezcua, Valerie; Bacerra, Phil; Phan, Thai; Penaloza, David; Lopez, Jessie; Hernandez, <br /> Johnathan; Vazquez, Benjamin <br /> Subject: Agenda Item 21: Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group <br /> Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. <br /> Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, <br /> My name is Maria Estela Valencia, and I live in Ward 6. I have lived in Santa Ana for most of my life and have <br /> seen the positive impact and richness our immigrants have given it. I am committed to ensuring the <br /> unconditional belonging of all immigrants in Santa Ana and throughout Orange County. <br /> I am writing to express my strong support for moving forward with Agenda Item 21 and bringing back the Sanctuary Policy <br /> Advisory Group. This community oversight mechanism, written within the ordinance, facilitates trust and transparency <br /> between the City of Santa Ana and its immigrant residents. <br /> In January 2017, the Council passed a robust Ordinance with language stating that they would establish a task force <br /> made up of community members to advise the City Council on policies related to the ordinance, including helping craft <br /> policies to protect immigrants as well as recommend ways to use and oversee a city fund to help immigrants fight <br /> deportation in court. This advisory group has not met for some time, and with so much uncertainty, now is the time for the <br /> City of Santa Ana to reaffirm its support for the immigrant community and revive the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group to <br /> help facilitate trust and transparency between the City of Santa Ana and its immigrant residents. <br /> Santa Ana's status as a sanctuary city builds on years of community-based struggles to protect the political, economic, <br /> and human rights of our vibrant immigrant communities. I stand firm with Councilwoman Lopez's request that the advisory <br /> group reconvene within 30 days to provide updates to the city and recommendations on ways to protect residents better. <br /> I look forward to the re-implementation of the Sanctuary Ordinance and Advisory Board and to its role in protecting <br /> immigrants' rights in Santa Ana. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Maria Estela Valencia <br /> Ward 6 Resident, Santa Ana <br /> 1 <br />