On Feb. 11, about 80 people packed the meeting room at the Madera Public Library to participate in an informational forum on migration in which local authorities participated and explained the responsibility of their agencies and their commitment to the community.
City council members, county supervisors, representatives from the local school district and the police department, and the sheriff were present. The event was organized by a group of local women, led by Rosa Hernandez, a mother of four children originally from Oaxaca, and with the support of the Pan Valley Institute.
“During a meeting we had after the November 2024 elections, we talked about our concerns regarding the new political reality we would face with the new administration,” Hernandez said. “The women expressed a lot of concerns, fears and doubts about what could happen. Also, how these fears would affect our business activities and projects.”
This group of women, who called themselves Nuu Yavi (plaza, or square, in the Mixtec language, one of the 16 indigenous languages spoken in Oaxaca), collaborates on a culinary project dedicated to maintaining the traditions of Oaxacan cuisine—while generating income for their families.
“The first conclusion was the need to inform ourselves and to move forward even when we are afraid,” Hernandez said. “We can’t hide, we can’t freeze. And we asked ourselves, what do the local authorities think? Is there any way they can help our community in this situation?”
The women then decided to call a community meeting and invite local leaders. The hosts were José Eduardo Chavez and Juan Santiago, both young Oaxacan local community leaders. The meeting started promptly, with a large presence of young people.
In his opening remarks for the meeting, Santiago set the tone: “It is an honor to be here tonight to talk about an issue that is deeply personal to many of us, one that goes beyond politics and strikes at the very heart of our communities, our economy and our shared humanity as a nation of immigrants.
“Across Madera County and beyond, migrant farmworkers toil at dawn and sometimes into the evening, performing backbreaking labor to put food on our tables. They are the heart of America’s food system, but they are often treated as expendable—lauded as essential workers one moment and targeted with harsh immigration policies the next.
“When farmworkers are forced to live in the shadows, crops fail to harvest and our local businesses suffer. But beyond the economic cost, there is a moral cost—one that challenges the values of justice, dignity and respect we claim to uphold as a society.
“We are here today to say ‘enough is enough.’ Enough of policies that dehumanize our families and friends. Enough of raids that separate parents from their children. Enough of laws that criminalize survival.”
Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte clearly explained his agency’s role in the current circumstances. “We do not share information about city residents with other agencies, not even the DMV,” he said. “ICE has a presence in Madera, particularly at the courthouse, but I have not witnessed raids on the streets. Nor do they inform us in advance of their actions.”
Chiaramonte said that ICE can request help in cases where local police functions are necessary, such as violence or accidents. Likewise, the police chief assured that when there are protests or demonstrations, his agents seek to maintain order and avoid cases of violence, but do not interfere with people’s expression.
Meanwhile, Elia Medina and Alyson Crafton, representatives of the Madera Unified School District, answered questions from the audience, particularly regarding the responsibility of schools in the case of ICE arrests.
“We cannot prevent ICE from entering a school if they have an arrest warrant signed by a judge; we can only document the procedure and report it to the District,” Crafton said.
“We do not share personal data of students, and school staff are trained for these cases; there are protocols. Schools do not ask students for proof of citizenship.”
In response to a question from the audience about what happens if a parent is arrested, Crafton said that parents should update their information at schools and have an emergency plan. “There are laws that protect students, and there is also psychological help in cases of crisis.”
Madera City Council members expressed their solidarity with the feelings of immigrant residents.
“We do not want anyone to be affected in our city, everyone is welcome here,” said Council Member Steve Montes.
“Madera is a friendly city…The entire City Council is here in this forum; we want to listen and support in whatever way we can,” said Council Member Elsa Mejia.
Regarding the question of whether Madera could be a “sanctuary city,” the police chief clarified that California is a “sanctuary state” so it makes no sense to declare the city as such. He also added that a declaration in this sense could generate a negative reaction from the federal government, which could reduce funds for the city. “It is also important to protect the city,” he concluded.
Council Member Artemio Villegas highlighted the contribution of immigrant workers to society. “I am an immigrant, and I was undocumented for a while…Mexican immigrants come to work; they contribute to our city.”
But President Donald Trump wants to deport these workers, whom he calls “criminals” and “rapists,” although there is no evidence that immigrants commit more crimes than native citizens.
If a mass deportation were to occur in Madera, the economic effects would be serious. The main agricultural workforce is made up of immigrant workers, many of them undocumented.
Moreover, “if there are mass deportations we will have a negative impact on tax collection,” said Supervisor Robert Poythress. He added that both political parties “have failed immigrants…I don’t like that workers have to go around hiding.” He added that “federal representatives from the Valley, like Jim Costa [D–Fresno] and David Valadao [R–Hanford], should be at this forum answering questions.”
In this sense, Hernandez highlighted the informative value of the forum and mentioned that it is possible that another similar one will be organized. “We don’t always hear what we want to hear, but I think it is important to be informed and for people to come and ask questions.”
During dark times, a community meeting such as this forum, where solutions to the fears of many residents were discussed with respect and where all questions were answered, can make a difference for many. Especially when the goal is to protect residents vulnerable to attacks generated by racism and intransigence.
And this is how Santiago summed it up: “At the heart of this issue is a simple truth: when we protect farmworkers and their families, we strengthen our community. And when we stand together, we can build a future where dignity, justice and opportunity are for all of us, regardless of where we were born.
Protest Against Mass Deportations
BY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE STAFF
On Feb. 11, a protest took place in Tulare against the massive raids of undocumented immigrants initiated by President Trump’s administration. The event, organized by local activists, took place at the start of the World Ag Expo, which is visited by thousands of people each year at the International Agricultural Center.
“The meaning of this protest is resistance to President Trump’s nonsense,” said Roberto De La Rosa of Porterville, founder of Hola Raza, an organization dedicated to immigration issues.
“And it also has to do with farmworkers; most of them do not have legal residency, but they are the labor force of this country. And it also has to do with the fact that here is an international agricultural exposition where people from all over the world come.
“We want people to see both sides of the situation: the advances of modern agriculture, its new technology and, on the other hand, the reality of the workers.”
De La Rosa mentioned that there is currently a strong resurgence of racism and discrimination to which we must be more alert. This situation affects our families and our communities. “This took us a little by surprise, but this movement helps to create leadership.”
Protests are taking place in many cities in the United States against the arbitrary policies of the Trump administration, including the mass layoffs of government workers, increased tariffs on certain imported products, attempts to eliminate the Department of Education, attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and racial inclusion programs.
