El Cajón, California opposes Trump’s migratory raids

• El Cajón Revokes Support for Raids
• Fear Grows Among Immigrants
• Raids Expand in San Diego

El Cajón, a California city known for its firm stance against immigration, has decided to revoke a resolution that supported immigration raids under the administration of Donald Trump.

The measure was initially approved earlier this month, before Trump officially took office. However, the City Council quickly rejected it, fearing it would be perceived as racist.

Mayor Bill Wells, who had championed the resolution, disagreed with state laws that prohibit law enforcement officers from cooperating with ICE officials in California.

However, after receiving a wave of complaints from residents, the City Council reconsidered its decision.

Concern and Fear in the Community Over Immigration Raids

«We’re between a rock and a hard place,» exclaimed Wells during a public hearing, as other council members opted to modify the resolution.

Messages from residents reflected widespread fear of raids and concerns within the city’s diverse community.

A significant portion of the population—including Latinos, refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan, and African and Asian communities—expressed concerns about being detained based on their appearance or national origin.

«Why do I have to carry my birth certificate just to buy groceries?» questioned one woman.

Fears escalated when immigration raids began in neighboring San Diego County, leading to intensified protests.

Council members, particularly Michelle Metzchel, began reconsidering the resolution after receiving over 100 emails that deeply impacted them.

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During the meeting, Metzchel, who had initially supported the resolution, announced she was changing her stance. «I don’t want to be part of this; this makes us look like racists,» she stated.

The revised resolution, which acknowledged immigrant communities as «vibrant and diverse,» was ultimately rejected in its entirety.

«This isn’t about safety or order—it’s an act of racism,» commented Yusef Miller, a Muslim leader in El Cajón.

Meanwhile, raids in San Diego, conducted in coordination with the FBI and DEA, began expanding into areas with high immigrant populations, such as City Heights and North Park.

Humanitarian organizations responded by offering legal assistance to migrants, informing them of their rights when confronted by ICE agents.

As raids intensify across Southern California, tensions between public safety and immigrant rights continue to deepen.

El Cajón’s refusal to cooperate with immigration authorities reflects growing opposition to Trump’s immigration policies and concerns about the racial implications of such actions.

In an environment where diverse communities feel increasingly vulnerable, the City Council’s decision to reconsider its stance highlights the complexity of balancing security with social justice.

SOURCE: EFE

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