On the same day, “No Kings” marches were held in Woodland and across America in opposition to President Donald Trump, a little-known organization in Yolo County held a fundraiser to assist immigrants.

The Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network’s fundraiser drew about 300 people Saturday night to the Home Arts Building of the Yolo County Fairgrounds.

It was the first time since 2019, the Interfaith Network had gathered to raise money for immigrants, although the organization has been around since 2008.

People paid $75 per person to have a buffet dinner, hear Mariache Puente and speeches from Winters Mayor and YIIN board member Albert Vallecillo as well as UC Davis Global Affairs director Andrea Gaytan.

I know several members of the group and have been impressed with its efforts to provide educational and recreational programs at the Madison Migrant Center where farmworkers live, a weekly visitation program at the Yolo Juvenile Detention Facility.

The group also manages the ApoYolo program, which provides financial assistance to county families facing eviction and other extreme hardships, along with needs-based assistance for filing fees for those seeking to become citizens or get work permits.

The Saturday dinner was themed “In These Hard Times … Standing Together with Our Immigrant Neighbors,” which I considered appropriate given the millions of people who attended the “No Kings” marches.

The event’s theme was also appropriate given the number of sponsors, which included Davis United Methodist Church, Concilio of Yolo County, Congregation Bet Haverim Social Justice Committee, Winters Community Corazon and Yolo County Democratic Central Committee among many others, including present and former elected officials.

Immigrants have been in fear of being deported for months with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting both legal and illegal residents across the county. Many immigrants have been arrested at their workplaces or in agricultural fields, as well as at state and local courthouses, as they have been applying for citizenship or legal documentation allowing them to remain in the country.

Some have been deported without due process.

Yolo County has been largely spared raids by ICE, although Winters has apparently seen some arrests as have some farming operations.

But it was only this past Saturday that President Trump issued an order to not arrest those at work in agriculture, construction or service industries such as hotels. However, on Sunday, President Trump directed federal immigration officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities.

So, it’s unclear today who will be deported in the future, although it would seem to me that if federal officials are looking for those immigrants who have committed crimes they should focus on people in state or federal prisons since they have already undergone due process arrests and trials.

However, I digress; the Immigration Network serves a vital function in assisting “our immigrant neighbors experiencing hardships and advocating for their rights,” according to Alison Dease, a member of the group’s board of directors.

Those of us in Yolo County know the value of immigrants — many of who are residents. They work in the local health care industries, construction and, of course, agriculture.

We couldn’t do without them.

Jim Smith is the former editor of The Daily Democrat, retiring in 2021 after a 27-year career at the paper.