Emotions were high for Carpinteria residents reeling from a Thursday raid on a Carpinteria cannabis business, where federal agents reportedly arrested 10 farmworkers and deployed flash and smoke grenades at a crowd of protesters.
At a special Carpinteria City Council meeting Thursday night, leaders approved $10,000 in emergency funds to support nonprofit organizations providing direct services to affected residents, and approved a proclamation condemning the recent U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement activity. They also discussed forming a committee focused on addressing immigration issues.
“There’s no doubt that it has been a difficult week for our community and a difficult day,” Mayor Natalia Alarcon said as her voice choked up at the start of the meeting.
The meeting was scheduled on Monday after ICE agents were spotted in the city and Santa Barbara County over the weekend.
On Thursday night, residents packed the council chambers, filled the hallways and sat on the floor as numerous others watched from outside holding flags and signs.
After the council read a proclamation condemning ICE activity, community members called for more than just words as they shared their own experiences from protesting the raid and the impact that immigration enforcement has had on them and their loved ones.
Jesus Cardona, a Carpinteria resident and son of immigrants, spoke while holding an upside-down American flag, sharing his frustrations over the day’s events.
“History is repeating itself, and we won’t be quiet, we will make our voices heard, we will stand together,” Cardona said. “The illegal community, as some people are so keen on calling out, isn’t new. They are the same neighbors, workers, friends, fathers and mothers that have been here for years.”
Other residents shared their interactions with federal agents from that day, with one man, David Rousso, claiming that federal agents approached him on Rincon Road, pushed him aside, grabbed his keys from the ignition of his car and threw the keys into nearby bushes.
Rousso said he got the name of the agent and was planning to file a complaint with Homeland Security.
Alexandra VanAntwerp said she attended the protest at the raid and was pushed to the ground by federal agents.
“I can tell you that the flash bang grenades that they threw at us will have a lasting effect on this community; they certainly will on me,” VanAntwerp said. “Those are powerful weapons. That’s what they used on us. We were there to protect our other community members, to show force and solidarity from a community standpoint, and what we were met with was absolutely unspeakable.”
Rogelio Delgado, a Carpinteria resident and immigrant, said he carries his passport with him to prove to ICE agents that he is a U.S. citizen.
“Where is our liberty? Where is our justice for all? The U.S. should be a land of the free, not the land of fear,” Delgado said.
He added that Carpinteria should join the cities in Los Angeles County that are suing the federal government.
Other community members shared their concerns about how the raids would impact the community mental health, children of immigrants, and the agriculture industry.
Councilman Al Clark said seeing the raids was worse than seeing fire come down the mountains, and that this is just the beginning.
“This administration is about fear and chaos and division, splitting us in different parts because when we’re apart we’re vulnerable, and I believe that the fear and chaos being sown is on purpose to declare martial law and possibly suspend the next election,” Clark said.
The Glass House Farms cannabis cultivation business that was raided by federal agents Thursday is in the unincorporated Carpinteria Valley, not within city limits. The city banned cannabis cultivation and dispensaries, while the county issues licenses for all types of cannabis businesses.
Representatives for Congressman Salud Carbajal, state Sen. Monique Limón and Assemblyman Gregg Hart condemned the raid and expressed their support for the city and residents.
First District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Roy Lee, a former member of the Carpinteria City Council, also made an appearance to share that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors supported the council.
At the start of the meeting, Vice Mayor Mónica Solórzano chose to abstain from the Pledge of Allegiance for the third meeting in a row to show support for immigrant communities.
Councilwoman Julia Mayer moved to stand behind Solórzano, and placed a hand on her shoulder as she said the pledge. Mayor Alarcon recited the pledge but did not place her hand over her heart.
The council plans to discuss these issues again at a July 28 meeting. The ad hoc committee will be charged with looking into other ideas such as joining the state lawsuit against the federal administration and exploring legal protections regarding ICE operations.
For the $10,000 in emergency funds, the city will issue a Request for Proposals next week, with a two-week deadline for submissions. Funding allocations are expected to be announced shortly after the review period concludes, according to Juliza Briones, public information officer for the City of Carpinteria.
Eligible organizations must have an existing presence in Carpinteria and demonstrate the ability to respond quickly to community needs. Funding will be awarded based on an organization’s ability to provide case management, emergency financial assistance, food distribution, mental health services, legal services, and education, Briones said.
The funding is in addition to the $150,000 Community Support Grant Funding that was already approved by the council; however, that funding is not expected to be awarded until the fall.
The city is also putting together a page of resources for immigrant communities on the website.