SANTA CRUZ >> Ballots from the Nov. 5 election are still being tabulated in Santa Cruz County and all across the nation, but one contest that is already clear is the race for the White House.

Donald Trump will become the 47th president of the United States, and along with his victory comes a series of stated policy intentions that have some local officials alarmed, chief among them a pledge to conduct the largest deportation program in American history.

In response to this pledge and his rhetoric around immigration in general, dozens of county public officials gathered outside of the county courthouse Thursday for a news conference in support of the large immigrant community living in the region.

“We know this is going to be a very difficult time for our community. We know there’s going to be a lot of fear,” said Santa Cruz County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios. “But we are here to let you know that we will support you. We will do everything in our power to continue to provide every service that we can to our community and continue as we have been in the past.”

A letter of solidarity and support for immigrant communities, undersigned by 35 local political, education, health care and law enforcement leaders, was distributed to members of the press and public at the Thursday conference. The letter, whose signatories include Watsonville and Santa Cruz Mayors Vanessa Quiroz-Carter and Fred Keeley, Assemblymembers Gail Pellerin and Dawn Addis, state Sen. John Laird and county Sheriff-appointee Chris Clark, stated that “residents have expressed deep apprehension about the hateful rhetoric and potential policies of the incoming administration — concerns that we fully share.”

It continued, “Regardless of any rhetoric or actions from the incoming administration, we assure our community that we will continue to stand firmly in support of our family members, friends, and neighbors, no matter their immigration status.”

The letter included a reminder of several legal and policy protections already in place at the state and local level. This list includes the California Values Act, which prohibits state and local police from using funds or personnel to support immigration enforcement, or from asking about immigration status and sharing personal information with immigration authorities. Other protective laws include the TRUTH and TRUST acts, or AB 2792 and AB 4, as well as state education codes that restrict schools from collecting or sharing immigration status information or discriminating based on immigration status.

According to a report from the Associated Press, Trump has pledged to deport millions of people living in the United States without legal status by invoking wartime powers, relying on like-minded governors and using the military. The U.S. Census Bureau has estimated that 11 million people live in the United States without authorization. Moreover, according to Pew Research Center, about 70% of households with at least one person in the United States illegally also have someone in the country legally.

Felipe Hernandez is the county’s 4th District supervisor, which includes large portions of South County and has a population, according to Hernandez, that is 85% Latino.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that we protect our communities here,” said Hernandez. “South County, our local economy there is run by immigrants and agriculture, and the majority of the food put on the table (for) Americans is by the immigrant community. So I want to make sure we continue to protect that as well.”

The agricultural sector, powered largely by immigrant workers, has long been one of the county’s major economic engines with commodities reaching nearly $655 million in 2023.

“Republicans’ resounding sweep of the House, Senate and Presidential elections clearly demonstrates that Americans are ready for a positive change. President Trump has repeatedly expressed support for legal immigration, including streamlining the process, prioritizing skilled workers, and employment-based programs such as H-1B visas which are the lifeblood of Silicon Valley,” Peter Coe Verbica, chair of the Santa Cruz County Republicans, wrote to the Sentinel in an emailed statement.

“To align our country’s immigration practices with those practiced by allies such as Canada and Australia is just common sense,” wrote the Republican representative. “The Trump administration previously granted extensions for ‘Temporary Protected Status’ registrations, called for increased funding for immigration courts to address backlogs, and allowed for immediate family immigration processes to help with family reunifications.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, whose lawsuit against the Trump administration played a key role in ending its family separation policy, has reported that close to 5,500 children were separated from their parents. Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the ACLU’s lawsuit, said the ACLU estimates that as many as 1,000 families are still apart.

While Republicans have secured the White House and U.S. Senate, the House remained a matter of dispute Thursday, according to the AP.

According to the letter, Santa Cruz County and the cities of Watsonville and Santa Cruz have previously passed resolutions that affirm a shared commitment to protecting residents no matter their immigration status. County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said that despite passing its resolution shortly after Trump was first elected in 2016, the county still experienced a drop in local residents seeking services, which has “cascading effects not just for those individuals and families, but for our community.”

U.S. census data reflects that 18.2% of Santa Cruz County’s population is foreign-born which is 9.1% lower than the state’s figure of 27.3%.

MariaElena De La Garza, CEO of Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, said the local network of nonprofits, community and political leaders is offering “know your rights” conversations, webinars and educational opportunities. It has also partnered with local immigration lawyers to offer free legal immigration consultation clinics. The action board’s website is at cabinc.org and it can be phoned at 831-763-2147.

The news conference came hours after California Gov. Gavin Newsom called state lawmakers in for a special session with the intention of safeguarding the state’s progressive climate change, reproductive rights and immigration policies during the coming Trump administration. A key architect of those developing strategies will be Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, whose district encompasses portions of South County, including the city of Watsonville.

“Let me be very clear: Every child has a right to receive a free public education without discrimination, reprisal, or fear regardless of immigration status, race, or gender identity,” said Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah. “Whatever the future holds I have no doubt that this community will respond with strength, unity and action.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.