Panetta focuses on immigration solutions

April 18, 2017

Amy Wu, The Californian

SALINAS -- Congressman Jimmy Panetta said amending the work visa process and focusing on pushing legislation such as the BRIDGE Act through the pipeline are critical components of immigration reform.

At an immigration forum in Salinas on Monday night, Panetta shared his thoughts and potential solutions to the immigration challenges that many – including those in the agriculture industry – say has been going on for years.

Panetta said he supports comprehensive immigration reform "but unfortunately it's not with this administration." He suggested reform targeting undocumented workers already here can occur through amending the visa program.

"We can get something done if we can work on the visa process, and keep them here through some sort of visa change in the work program, and make sure they can stay here not one year but three years," said Panetta.

This was in response to a question from Jeff Taylor, a cattle rancher, and owner of Salinas-based Heritage Farms LLC, who asked Panetta specifically what are his proposed solutions on immigration.

Panetta said he's invited Trump to visit the Salinas Valley and see firsthand how critical immigrants are to the local and regional economy. Salinas has a high population of migrant workers who are the backbone of Salinas Valley's $9 billion agriculture industry. Many immigrants also work in hotels and restaurants that make up Monterey County's $2.5 billion hospitality industry.

Panetta said it was critical to continue highlighting the importance of immigrants to the economy on a local and national level

"I believe if we continue to send him (President Trump) these economic messages, he will get it," Panetta said. "If we get these economic numbers to him, we can speak with him on that level."

Panetta said locally elected officials should continue to advocate for immigrants through legislation. He cited proposed bills in the works including the Statue of Liberties Value Act, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to enforce Trump's immigration executive order signed Jan. 27. The bill is led by U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) who was a lead speaker at the immigration forum organized by Panetta at Hartnell College in February. Panetta also supports the Protecting Our Border Communities Act and the Community Trust Act. Panetta is especially proud of the BRIDGE Act – a bipartisan piece of legislation that he co-sponsored – that seeks to allow those who have received work authorization and temporary relief from deportation through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to continue living in the U.S. with permission from the federal government.

Immigration forums

The forum, held inside the Salinas City Hall rotunda, was organized by Salinas City Councilmember Steve McShane. Attendees included Monterey County Board of Supervisor Luis Alejo, and panelists were Christopher Barrera, head of the local chapter of LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens); immigration attorney Magnolia Zarraga; Carina Chavez, a representative from Panetta's office; and Cesar Lara, representing Building Healthy Communities. Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter introduced Panetta and had to leave soon after for another event.

It is also one of numerous immigration forums that local government officials and community leaders have organized since Trump signed the executive orders on immigration.

This forum, unlike those held previously, had a smaller audience but, also unlike those others, represented different facets of the community, including community leaders, neighborhood organizers and regular attendees of the city council meetings.

Many of the forums have been informational with the goal of addressing the heightened fears of the immigrant community particularly over deportation.

But missing from many of the forums has been the agriculture industry.

"Ag is very engaged in this but at a non-public level. Ag is driven by agribusiness and business - even small family farms - doesn't necessarily function the same way as the government," said McShane, himself a member of the agriculture industry as owner of McShane's Nursery. McShane said many agriculture companies were holding their own meetings and forums and addressing their workers.

"The labor shortage is the first concern," he said, "but the big players they already have their ducks in the line. Ag is not in fear and it's not that they aren't responding to this. It's almost like this issue is coming late to the party."

Issues: Immigration