Latino members of the San Jose City Council are calling for more funding for undocumented immigrant protections as the incoming presidential administration threatens to ramp up deportations.
Councilmembers Pamela Campos, Domingo Candelas, David Cohen and Peter Ortiz want the city to follow up on past funding from Santa Clara County officials and give more financial support to the Rapid Response Network — a coalition of community-run organizations that protect immigrants and their families from deportation raids. Though new San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said officers won’t detain, question or arrest people solely because of their immigration status, incoming President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to conduct mass deportations nationwide. Santa Clara County is home to more than 134,000 undocumented immigrants.
“We need to act now to protect and strengthen the Rapid Response Network to prepare for any legal battles and reaffirm our commitment that no city employee, including our police department, will inquire about legal status or cooperate with immigrant enforcement,” Ortiz said Wednesday…