Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolution in support of Humanitarian Parole for Jose Luis Alvarez Sandoval, Department of Homeland Security Case No. A 92 812 968.
Great. Thank you. And that moves on to the Parks and Recreation Commission. And now we're moving back over to item number ten. Communication from Councilmember Wodonga Councilwoman Gonzalez and Councilmember Pearce. Recommendation to request the city attorney to draft a resolution in support of humanitarian parole for Jose Luis Alvarez Sandoval. Okay. Thank you. I'm going to turn this over to Councilmember your. Thank you, Mayor. I would like to move that. We request the city attorney draft resolution in support of humanitarian parole for Lewis Iris. And the. Humanitarian parole is granted by Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to focus on that meeting for residents who cannot otherwise qualify for an immigrant visa to the United States , but who merit entry for compelling reasons. Persons granted humanitarian parole are permitted to remain in the US only for the period of time that is necessary to fulfill a humanitarian need or to tend to an emergency situation. Humanitarian parole is only valid for a period of one year and the applicant can resubmit to be considered for additional time after that period of time expires. Here's a little more information about what brought us here today. About a month ago, on Sunday, October 9th, I found myself with congressman member with Congressmember Alan Lowenthal on my way to Friendship Park at the US-Mexico border. While that tradition he spent weekends with my family, I felt compelled. Compelled to meet a man who had been separated from his. I went there to meet a man who had settled roots and had created a family in the United States, a man who called Long Beach Home, and unfortunately, a man who was unjustly removed from this country and forced to live to leave his children and wife behind. As an individual who comes from an immigrant background and who has witnessed firsthand political scapegoating of immigrants in dire need in dire times, including this presidential election. I found myself that Sunday morning. Talking to a man through a wall that tears millions of families apart. I witnessed firsthand the tragedy of our misguided and dysfunctional immigration system. Earlier this year, Jose Alvarez was on his way home after picking up his son from work, a seemingly non-threatening activity that would forever change their lives. On their way home. A California State University Long Beach police officer was on patrol and noticed the broken taillight across his car. The officer signaled all said to pull over. So initially we seemed like a routine traffic stop turned into a nightmare for the Alvarez family. After communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, ICE, the officer helped Hosier due to a 21 year old nonviolent felony drug conviction. Under current immigration policies. These types of criminal records prioritize individuals like Jose for deportation with no consideration for the family and the life he created in the United States or the comments he made after his arrest. Jose was held that was held at CSB before ICE deported him unable to communicate with his family. And the following morning, Jose found himself in Tijuana, Mexico, alone. Hozier is the father of six children and a grandfather all born in the United States. His youngest children attend school to Long Beach. One of his sons attended Long Beach City College before dropping out to financially support the family as a result of his father's deportation. His son Horace is a US Marine Corps veteran who served his country for seven years, including a tour in Iraq. Joseph is a family man and he recognizes a mistake he made in the past. After you. After he was convicted, he turned his life around. But none of these factors were taken into consideration as ice removed him without notifying his family. This heartbreaking incident created financial instability, emotional turmoil and trauma within his household. They now have to make weekly visits and alter their schedules to visit their father and husband at the border, as I witnessed that Sunday morning. To experience a separation this family must endure made me realize the injustice brought upon the Alvarez family. Current immigration policy has allowed one mistake to define his legacy and that of his family. At the time of his original conviction, Josette was penalized under the illegal under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1995, which sped up deportations, deportations, increased detentions and criminalized entire communities. This scenario has played out in a million times, and families are being separated on a daily basis. As we celebrated Veterans Day this week or this last week. A day where we recognize those who have served our country. Emerging. My fellow colleagues at City Council to support the evolution of this humanitarian parole case. To reunite a soldier who was willing to give his life for our freedom with his father. Seeing the Alvarez family interact with their father through a wall that that Sunday morning made the criminalization of immigrants and a broken system all too apparent . This deportation did not affect only Jose, but that of his loved ones and the broader community and the broader immigrant immigrant community in Long Beach. Cal State. Long Beach students and their families questioned their own safety in a place meant for learning. Therefore. As a consequence of that arrest, California State University Law Week responded. By issuing general order 55, which stipulates that campus police officers may arrest a foreign national with an undocumented status only if there is probable cause to believe he or she has violated a state law, a law, a local ordinance, or a federal law unrelated to immigration laws for which a warrant has been issued by a judge. In other words, our pursuit officers shall not stop or detain persons for determining immigration status or arrest persons solely for alleged undocumented entry into the United States. This is called profiling. In a time when this country is discussing the criminalization of people of color, are reforming the criminal justice system. We cannot forget our immigrant community. The lives of millions of people count on it, and our economy depends on it. The hall where his family has given so much to our city and our nation, and as demonstrated by their son, George Walker, and his military service, we should support or celebrate. His request were given a terrible role as lawmaker. Families who live and work in our city should be able to live without the fear of being separated. Tonight, I support and urge my colleagues. To support the effort to bring Joseph back to his family through humanitarian parole. Thank. Thank you. Next up is Councilmember Pearce. Thank you, everyone. Who standing up today for jose and many families like him. I want to thank the council member, councilmember ranga, the immigrant rights coalition, the greater language interfaith community organization for bringing this resolution forward, one which is a city of immigrants. And we pride ourselves on that diversity despite what's going on at the federal level. I'm proud that in Long Beach we continue to take action to protect our diverse communities. Like Josie, many immigrants in Long Beach own their own business, work at our hotels. Our restaurants contribute greatly to our local economy as workers, consumers, students and taxpayers. Mr. Alvarez's story represents more than just his own experience of deportation. He's already sparked significant policy changes at the local, state and federal level. On September 28, 2006, Assembly Bill 27, 92, The Truth Act went forward to continue to make changes, and that's due to Josie and all the community support that has been surrounded by him. Every day we have people that are deported throughout this country and often they don't have community members like yourself standing next to them, fighting for them and advocating for them. And so we really want to applaud everybody for your courage today. I ask that my colleagues here in Long Beach support this resolution. Again, I want to thank everybody for their work. I know that family is where you base so much of your day out of and that being torn apart from your children, your grandchildren, your wives or your husband is not a place where you can be a productive member of society. And so my heart broke the first time I heard the story. I believe it was at portfolio coffee shop. Thank you, Andrea. And I am inspired by your leadership and by Jose's family's courage to continue to speak out and advocate for what's just. And so I hope that my colleagues tonight will do the right thing and vote to support this. Thank you so much. Thank you, Vice Mayor Richardson. Thank you, Mayor Garcia. I want to thank Councilmember U. Ranga for taking leadership on this issue and all the co-sponsors who signed on to this item. I'm happy to voice my support here. I know that sometimes these issues are challenging, but what really got to me was when I sat down with the Immigrant Rights Coalition and was able to speak directly with the family and understand from a firsthand perspective what they're facing. And it can't be easy for your family, your personal life, to be thrown into the public space on a very contentious issue. So I want to applaud you for your perseverance. And and I know that our government doesn't have it all together and within this space, but at least we can be right in our hearts here in local government. So I feel one 100% good about my vote tonight in support of this resolution. So thank you. Thank you. We're going to we're going to go ahead go to public comment the first. But before we do that, I think there's a representative from Congressman Lowenthal office who's here. Is that correct? Okay. So we're going to have her speak first. And then if I can have if you're planning on speaking on the side, if you can please just line up at the podium right now so we can be expeditious in the comments and then we'll go back to the council. So thank you so much, please. Thank you so much for the opportunity. And thank you, Councilmember Ranga, for bringing this to the Long Beach City Council. The congressman is in Washington, D.C. today, but he wanted me to read this statement on his behalf. I ask you to please support Jose Alvarez and his family's request of humanitarian parole to the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday. I will just join Jose's family in Washington, D.C., to urge Secretary Johnson to change the policy within DHS that prevents family members of current and former members of the U.S. armed forces from qualifying for parole in place for military families based on nonviolent criminal convictions. While these convictions must be considered, they are just one factor and should not outweigh the fact that Jose has led an exemplary life as a Long Beach resident and family man for the past 21 years. Policy decisions that. Involve keeping families together should not be seen as black and white, but as one of many factors to be waiting, considering an applicant's petition for parole in place. This is especially true for family members of our servicemen and women who already face disproportionate stress in service to our country today. Please think about all those immigrant families in our community and about all the invaluable contributions they have made to our city's social, economic and cultural fabric. Thank you. Thank you so much. Give the congressman our best. Next speakers, please. Good afternoon. My name is Susanna Alvarez, and I am the oldest daughter of Jose Alvarez today. I'm here to thank Councilman Aranda and council peers and Councilman Gonzalez for taking the leadership in an issue that is not only impacts me, but millions of immigrants across this country. I also want to thank the mayor of Long Beach and the offices of Congressman Alan Lowenthal for having our back in these times of open racism and disregard for human life. I am here in the Chambers of LAMP because of the horror of the City of Long Beach, singing the song of justice for my father to support his return to us. His return to his family has returned to the city of Long Beach. My father was unjust, unjustly deported with the contribution of one police officer from California State University in Long Beach. There's one officer alone who acted like an ICE agent. Took my father to the campus, held him there until ICE came to deport him to Mexico. His deportation, of course, so quickly that the lawyers and immigration rights organizations didn't have enough time to intervene to stop it. However, we have been receiving support from organizations locally and nationally. As a Latina mother and woman, I am concerned for the future of my children. I am concerned about my kids growing up without their grandfather. I am concerned for the seven generations of children who will grow up without their grandfathers or their mother, simply because the deportation machine has no regard for who has no regard for human life. Today. My tears won't be of sadness. My tears would be of hope. I hope and have faith. Though we approached President Obama, we will plead and urge him to bring back housing. I want my father back. And President Obama has the authority to approve his request to come back. And today, the resolution will help in bringing my father back. On a related note, when we held an event at the border. So for my father coming back, my mom and my siblings were in an unfortunate car accident. My mother is in the hospital in San Diego right now being treated for her injuries. Now more than ever, we need our father back. Thank you for the city of Long Beach, for protecting immigrants, and for urging President Obama to try to bring back Jose, my father. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much for speaking. That's speaker. Hello. Good castle. I just want to say, hopefully this resolution passes very. Thank you for your time and for all the effort, you guys, from the effort of the, uh, the, the people who has helped us as well. Um, thank. It's Victor, right? Yes. Well, first of all, Victor, I just want to thank you for your service to our country. My grandmother, your other brother, his portrait. Okay. I thought it was you. So it's okay. Well, thank him for his service to the country. And thank you for being here. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Good afternoon. My name is and that I don't know. And my community organizer with the great Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization. I started organizing with ICA about more than a little more than two years ago. So start a. Mary was one of the first leaders that came with me and has been organizing with me. She's been volunteered by her husband and other members of her family. Now, is the sister involved who today is in a hospital in San Diego and couldn't be here if I was Joseph's wife? This case hits home today. I urge you to please support Josef Albers and his family. This vote doesn't is not just to bring Josie back, but this vote will also give the students the hope and insurance that the city will start with them. And he also will give the immigrant community in Long Beach a message that the city stands with them. And in these moments of fear, you are willing to take action to bring and to keep families together. And that's what we need today. Thank you very much. Thank you. Well, I mean, Maria Reyes, yesterday I keep our eye on a general gathering of those Gonzalez, kipper poblano salpointe Potrero, Jose Burger. They are more important. They're separate to Casa. Forgive me. And why not? So from an accident in Tijuana, yesterday was probably not anyone missed hospital hospitalization. You know, you're not supposed to recuperar it. You alone operate on Cinco versus a mere man on a particular in L.A.. So, you know, they may get less noticed that that translate. But at the OC, you know, just go ahead and just translate for what she said. That'd be great. I'm sorry I didn't catch it. Can we start? Sure, I can. I can translate the beginning. So I think it's okay. What what she said essentially was, is she's very concerned, obviously, about the case, and she's very concerned about her sister, who was in a terrible accident in Tijuana. She spent she still been in Tijuana for five months, I think is what I think is what you said. In May as. Well. Five surgeries. It's for one month that she's had a variety of surgeries. And it's very important for you for for him to be able to return to the United States. And if you want to continue, let her continue in the police and you're. On. See reality what or may not be Yeltsin corporacion this is I. Would say my sister has already had five surgeries. You know, what I'm aware of within the U.S. generally went through the process Albania the and then came over LA. So what we'll do is just so we can understand it, we'll let her say a few sentences and then if you want to translate, then let her speak and then will translate. It'll just be easier to hear because it's a little hard. Thank you. Let me. Okay. Okay, okay. Okay. Yeah. And Barcelona is one area. And my concern is that when they bring her home. I'll wait to see who told us that. All of her children work. Experience so they. They'll have their jobs and there's no one. There's. There's not there's not going to be anyone. There will there's not going to be anyone to be able to tend to her. She'll have to go to the doctor. Danny gave up, and we'll have to retire. We'll, uh. We'll need to take her to therapy. She needs her husband so that she can get around. But as we all know, some point in the story you wouldn't say. And that's the reason why I'm asking for your support to help us to get hotel back. It is very important. So is we majekodunmi and also prone to the necessity of his. His youngest has also suffered an injury. He all he also needs his father so that he can take him to the doctor because she is not able to. He is no necessity. Welcome in parochial throwback. One royal reporter on the throne. We also need him so that he can work. And he is he can support his family when he was deported. Now, she was the one that was working. But a border parliamentary in Montana and also. In order to pay the rent and support the family. But what a blessing. Why again, not the people? Most people. Now there is no one that can look after the younger children. Whereas the more important. He at the end. And that is the reason why it is so important that he comes back so that he can look after his family. It is one more in York and why not the end as soon as this little girl get on? Well, I know, I know. It is very difficult to know that my sister is down there and that there is no one there that can help her if she needs to be moved around. So I get one day you get a certain amount of nothing for a man of the year. And up in there. She's there all by herself. And there are times when she needs to use the restroom. Restroom, and there's no one. So she needs to call on the nurses. And the nurses aren't always available. Where would you say Margaret ICAC would appoint. That is, that is all. Thank you very much. And please support us. Please help us. To send you to this next speaker, please. My name is Elena macias. Good. Good evening. Ladies and gentlemen. The United States is a nation of immigrants. Over the past 240 years, the nation has gone through four periods of immigration policies, the last three largely founded on fear and prejudice that tended to escalate with each period of national instability. Only the first 85 years of immigration were relatively free and open. Citizenship, however, was limited to Anglo-Saxon Protestant men of property. Citizenship for women was limited. In 1804. It was restored with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, but was not fully realized until 1940. The second period resulted after the rise of worsening economic conditions in some parts of the country. Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1882. These laws sought to limit competition for worker wages and set the national quota system. The policy to preserve the national origins of the United States population to that of the previous census. It would not be until 1965, at the height of the civil rights movement, that immigration would open to Latin America, Africa and Asian Asia. 30 years later, the opening was cause for a backlash in some quarters against diversity. The third period changed from economic security to national security issues due to the threat of World War Three excuse me, World War Two. Enforcement of the borders and strict numbers of immigrants were instituted as well as targeted deportation. Fear of communism exacerbated concerns. We moved from free and open to terrorism as a current and fourth driver of migration policies in 1996. After terrorist attack, the Federal Government made a radical shift to limit habeas corpus and create a new detention industry. The result is widespread arrest and deportation of immigrants. With the passage of two laws the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, the net cast for terrorist was even wider for foreigners that included the unauthorized immigrant as well as the authorized and the legal permanent resident. A simple stop for a broken tail light that used to result in a fix it ticket became grounds for detaining immigrants. A misdemeanor, if committed by an immigrant became a felony, thus grounds for immediate deportation. An individual who had served a sentence for nonviolent offenses became a target for deportation the minute he was released from jail. We got to serve the time as I was going to wrap it up. I urge you to support the return of Mr. Alvarez under the California Trust Act. The police officer had no duty to detain him. It happened because the policeman was informed. Had this happened to an immigrant in a similar situation just two decades before. The family would be intact. I urge you to support the question before you and reunite this family again. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Hello. My name is Maribel Cruz and I'm with the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition. I am here today in support of Jose Alvarez to his family. Just as you heard, his family has suffered through the tragedy of family separation, which is one of the biggest fears in the undocumented community. As a representative of this organization who has fought for immigrant rights locally for the last ten years. We cannot let the injustice, of course, this case go without a fight. California has supported undocumented people through providing access to health care, driver's license and other programs. And we cannot let the deportations and the separations of family go unchallenged. The average family represents thousands of families here, locally and regionally. They represent millions of families across the nation as well during the election process. Immigrants were used as scapegoats and talking point. And we cannot turn a blind eye to the real pain and the injustice that is that this family is experiencing. This is why organizations like LBI Mercy I go in and Dawn came together to support this family in this year. We have held press conferences, actions at the border and circulated petitions and even testified at the state legislature in support of the Truth Act and will continue to support Jose in his appeal to come back to this country, to his home as an undocumented person and resident of the fourth District. I am disappointed that my council member is not here to listen to the testimonies and to vote on this resolution because family separation happens in the fourth district as well. Every day, immigrant communities are threatened with unjust policies and practices that target the immigrant community. I stand here as a beacon of justice and organization, will not stop fighting for his say, his family and our community. I urge all the council members to support this resolution and bring Jose back. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Good evening, Mayor. Good evening. City Council and city staff. My name is Tanya Omalu IU and I am a resident of the First District. I am a member of the Building Healthy Communities Long Beach Steering Committee and also the founder of Project Alpha, our organization advocates for the reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals. And as a proud member of all of us or none. A national, grassroots, civil and human rights organizations fighting for the rights of formerly and currently incarcerated people and their families. We are fighting against the discrimination that people face every day because of arrest or conviction history, as we see with our brother, Jose Alvarez. Through our grassroots organizing, we are building a powerful political movement to win full restoration of our human and civil rights. I'm here tonight to ask you for your support of the humanitarian parole of Jose Alvarez in June. The Beach c Long Beach Steering Committee wrote a letter asking President Obama to stand by Jose and his opportunity to be reunited with his family. And today I stand here to ask you, the city council, to please do the same. Jose, his case is unique, but his story is shared by so many others. Jose served his time for his 21 year old felony conviction and has since worked hard to support his family. California voters are recently increasingly asking for second chances for our community and reform of our justice system. From the passages of Proposition 47 to Proposition 57 to the success of many community based efforts, these propositions fill me with hope that we do not have to live a life sentence of incarceration for the time we spent behind bars . Jose was caught in the middle of a very harsh immigration policy and local law enforcement's collaboration with immigration officials. His individual situation was not considered. He was simply labeled a high priority system, some even at high risk and deported, disrupting his and his family's life. Deportations like this tear Long Beach families apart. And it's not just the Latino community. It's Cambodians families. It's Filipino families. It's Samoan families and so many others. This instability leads to stress trauma impacting our community's health and well-being. As a formerly incarcerated individual. I was given a second chance by many of you sitting here. I was allowed to share my passion for community service by getting involved and giving back to my community. You see, I cannot and do not really want to give back, but I do, because that is the only way I can heal . I believe that a safe and just community includes embracing those who have made wrong decisions and are now courageous change agents in our community. I thank you and the City Council for second chances and for the opportunity to be rehabilitated and now reunited with my family. Jose, too, deserves this opportunity to be granted humanitarian parole and the necessity to be with his family. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Um. Well, my name is one where I come from. Bixby North. So, uh, just a few things I got to say. Make it quick. Um, well, first of all, this paranoia of immigrants is really. I mean, it kind of goes against the very creation of our country since. Our country was literally built from immigrants, whether they were from England, Africa, France. Everywhere. Okay. Okay. Now we're feeling now we're just here fearing people coming from our southern borders that are mostly that are mostly natives, I mean, generally mixed natives, but they're mostly natives. But, you know, I mean, originally this was this was their land. I don't see why we have to keep doing this. And then another thing is that, like, look, like many people said, these minor offenses should not be basis for deportation. I mean, come on. Not not having your lights fixed properly. Like how? Getting deported for that. How is that going to fix anything, really? And then. Because of this, these things, people tend to live in fear. And, you know, it's it makes it hard for people to live in everyday life and support their families. And then here's another thing, because many because these people have to support their families and sometimes even the rest of the country working in farms, manufac, you know, manufacturing plants and other such places. Well, we're limiting their ability to do that. And my last point here is that we should serve as an example for every other city and basically the rest of the country as a sanctuary for immigration, for for workers. And this this will be another step towards a truly free United States of America. I am done. Excuse me. What is your father, Juan? Why are you here? I'm right there. You know, you went. I remember. I remember you when you were very small. Good job. Thank you for being here. Well, our future is bright. I want to thank you for putting this on the agenda. You know, I realize that it was on the agenda about two weeks ago, but it's really taken on a different a different color now, a different tone. And so I think it's important that everyone's here. You know, Mayor Garcetti said, we see something that is hostile to our people, to our city, bad for our economy, bad for our security. We will speak up. We will speak out. We will act up and we will act out. He went on to say that the Los Angeles Police Department will continue to enforce a special order for the Gates signed directed that bars officers from contacting someone solely to determine their immigration status and went on to quote Our law enforcement officers and LAPD. Do not don't go around asking people for their papers, nor should they. That's not the role of local law enforcement, he said. And I would suggest that that's the same for the campus police. You know, we're not supposed to be afraid of our president. We're not supposed to be afraid of our police chief. We're not supposed to be afraid of going to school or picking up our kids from school. We do that every day and everyone else should have that freedom. The word of the day is fear, as that gentleman up there said. I think he's left now. But as community and civic leaders, we cannot let our community live in fear. If you don't address the fear your community is feeling, if you remain absent or you stay at home, or if we have leaders, do not stand in front or stand besides our community to keep the city from feeling unsafe . We're not part of the solution to calling the fears of our community. LAPD Chief Beck said, We are not going to engage in law enforcement activities solely based on somebody's immigration status. We are not going to work in conjunction with Homeland Security on deportation efforts. That is not our job, nor will I make it our job. And for that, I take my hat off to Chief Beck. This is me wondering what about the city of Long Beach? I want to first highlight and thank Mayor Garcia. I he was on the stage was senator our new senator, Kamala Harris at the table a presentation where they came out and also said that there needs to be some assurances for our immigrant populations and others. But I would like to know what actions will you take to help residents of Long Beach? Students at Long Beach Unified School District, students at Cal State, Long Beach, Long Beach City College. What actions will we take to make them feel safer? President Johnson. Jane Connelly, after those deportation initiated by her campus officers, said that temporary orders in place to protect undocumented people from being detained for immigration violations by campus police are now permanent. You can be certain that we will continue. Cal State, Long Beach, long standing tradition of welcoming the family and friends of our students regardless of their status. So we have an opportunity to act to make a statement. It's just a resolution. It's a nonbinding, non enforceable action that is symbolic to show support and acknowledge the fear in the community. But it matters and it matters to us. It matters to the community, matters to everyone behind me. So I ask that you send a message to our community that you care, that we want everyone who calls Long Beach home to feel safe and leaders in L.A. have come forward. Cal State, Long Beach, the leaders have come forward. And I know that we're looking for you to come forward as well and support this resolution. I thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Hi. Good night, council and everybody here. My name is Alexis Namatjira and I'm staff organizer at the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. We work for we work with low wage workers, day laborers. When I those who are not let us who are most of the time some of the most impacted by immigration enforcement. When we first heard about the Jose Alvarez case, we decided to take it on a pro-bono basis and working alongside WRC and ICAO. And now we're here. Hi. On behalf of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, I would like to commend what's going on right now. I would like to commend the sort of the bravery with you are elected officials who are about to take such an important action, even though it's not binding. Even though we know that you don't have the authority to bring their back, but you do have a microphone that you can amplify and you're staying true to your constituents and their actions. So I would like to really commend you for that. You know, we're we're extremely happy to work under the you know, with the leadership of Congressman, I don't know, one time their staff, you know, not only will we be able, if this passes, to deliver this resolution to President Obama next week, but also to deliver a congressional sign on letter. To amend that. 2013 policy that Iran to start from law and his office addressed, where the administration sort of, you know, failed to take a step further to protect the entire lives of sort of the diversity of experiences of American soldiers. You know, we absolutely support a change in our policy as well. And we know that we're in extreme danger and we have a target in our backs because of President elect Trump. But we vowed to, you know, continue to work with the most impact that we vow to continue to work with our partners, including, you know, to come in defense if there are any attacks whatsoever from this action. Thank you very much. Have a great night. We expect a positive outcome and we look forward to bringing Rosette back and taking this message to the White House later on this month to urge President Obama to bring her back. Thank you very much. Thank you. And before the next speaker, I'm going to close the speakers list and the other speakers that are going to get in line. Please get in line. Any other speakers? Okay. So what I'm going to do also is unless there's counsel. Objection, I don't think there is. Because of the the length of time we have, we're gonna go down to 2 minutes. Okay. So. And if you need translation, I'm at double your time. Okay? So don't worry. If you need translation, you'll be fine. But, Madam Clerk, if you can reflect that and please continue. So, first and foremost, thank you for taking the time and, you know, hearing our resolution, hearing all of our stories. My name is Luis Flores. I'm the president of Fuel Future underrepresented educated leaders, as well as a dog and youth coordinator for the mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs here at L.A.. So, you know firsthand to have the experience of, you know, working with these communities, working with all of our undocumented students on campus at Calle Colombia, there's close to 1000 undocumented students. So, you know, when when the news broke out that, you know, Jose had been deported, it created an uncertainty between just not just the campus community , but between, you know, a lot of us here at home. You know, this was a story that was heard around the media. It wasn't something it was something that was more locally known. You know, there were students even doubting taking their parents to a graduation ceremony because they feared even having, you know, their parents being deported just for seeing them graduate, which is not something that's supposed to happen. Universities are supposed to be, you know, a safe space. Like, you know, there's been a lot of conversation around Sanctuary University going on with the UC chancellor and all that type of stuff. You know, university is supposed to be a safe space. And, you know, you guys here, as our elected representatives, have the opportunity to set the tone and to support us here in our resolution. And, you know, like I said, we're going to make it short and quick. You know, I have you know, we're just really supportive and really thank you for all your time and support the beginning so far. So let's bring Jose back. Thank you. Thank you. You're all you're all in fuel. A great program at Cal State Long Beach. So thank you for for that book. Next speaker when as much as me tomorrow sister will baby one in six to these three told me my name is Estuardo and I live in the sixth district. A.S. Bissaka took exception. I would like you to know it's better, I think, unpleasant. Beside your character, they say punk is so unique. Persona move into my community before starting. I would like you to know that I'm a person very involved in the community. So in a. Community or también. Community involved person but also so persona came to look at local community that about them. I am also a person who involves the community so that the community will vote illegal. So they'll say the case of Jose. Is in particular is particularly on Castle Calhoun. It must prove Lemus case that shows more problems than it was familiar to. Friend though we have families that are suffering the most, Ninos Castaneda handle the qualification. Children whose grades are going down. Mama Maria's studies were stellar. My friend. Maria Esther. Studies was stellar. Is devastated. But not until your considerable the they ponied up the insulin is the. For that reason I think that we should pay attention to this case. Jack, I realize you're not machismo and cheesy muscle free me into it as much as it has brought up on a lot a lot of suffering expressed curiously yesterday. Kiev, Orlando, Podesta, Castle equal say. For that reason, I am today showing my advocacy for Josie's case. But what about repeated? Because as I repeat see and I went to the committee all alone they lito if when he was young he committed a crime elope ago he paid for it. No, no, I must say. I mean just go say in Nazi that and it's not only Jose say there are many houses in the city it those a clear but so if he already paid up in case momentarily the opportunity that I think it's time to give him an opportunity. Berkeley, a c la comunidad immigrant at the Net Esperanza, because in that way the community of immigrants are going is going to be, I hope, the killer. Yes. Some posters. That the that laws are fair. Casey commit the only road that if I make a mistake kanaloa committed. Who has not made a mistake? Your Pensacola Maria de nosotros remains committed on a roll. And I think that the majority of us have made a mistake when we were young. But you can be familiar. But we change because our family can be almost put a lot more than seahorse. We changed because of the love we feel for our children. You know, school improvement demos. I'll sit on my horses, Theranos, and we promise to become better citizens. Corazon Aquino will be the power forward. For that reason, today I'm asking you to please keep voting vote but regressing so that Jose can come back. But I could. But I do that as a spouse so that he can help his wife. But I closed Suzy Joe's parents services qualification so that his children's grades can improve, but to impact the totals because this impacts everyone. The decision to my Mousawi The decision that we take today by impacting them is going to impact the future. Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. Thank you. Middle class US Senator next week. My name is Alex Bellinger from Cal State Long Beach. I'm just going to reiterate what Fuel said when this happened on campus. Our undocumented students were terrified. They felt unsafe. And they still do. Especially after last week two. And while I can't speak on behalf of Colby as a whole, I know that I and Hilda, as well as so many students, support this resolution. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Good evening. My name is Hilda. I'd like to just begin by saying that I personally know Victor and his younger sister. And when I heard this story, I was so heartbroken that I can only imagine how he felt and his little sister felt along with his whole family. It wasn't until a few months later when the ICAC came into my house and took my own brother. It wasn't until I felt the same pain. Sorry if I get a little teary, but it is an issue that has been occurring all over Long Beach and and it's something that should be taken into consideration. And I believe that it's time that you show your constituents that you do care. So. Sorry. And so I highly, highly encourage you all. To support this resolution. Because it's happening. Nationwide. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Hello. Good evening. Council. I thought I might say something in support of this resolution, but also. As that. You actually hear what's happening here. People are scared of the police, the the the people that are employed to protect us. People are scared of. And I brought this up before in this room to you guys here. And I feel it's been ignored and you guys shouldn't be ignoring it. It should be something that's on your agenda to fix every day. If people are saying that their family are being deported and you want to support it, well, make some changes within the government. I've talked to a lot of officers out here that said, well, we are only obligated to do what we want to do. I talked to sergeants. I talked to watch commanders, lieutenants, all of them say the same thing. They're not obligated to follow every law. They're only obligated to follow whatever the law they choose. And so with that in mind, why would it be so difficult for them to put aside a simple stop for a tail light being out or for something simple like that? Something my Newt. It just doesn't make sense. And for you guys to say, oh, yeah, well, we support what you guys are saying. Well, you have to go beyond that. You have to make some changes in your in your policies and procedures. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker. And just as a reminder, this was not the Long Beach Police Department, but it was the late Cal State Long Beach University police. It's not the same department. Go ahead. Next speaker. My name is Celia McGill. I have been nice living here in Long Beach and I am single mom with three children, 26 and a three citizen. Dad, this is 22 and 19. My life here in noisy ikea been working very hard to support my citizen in in I support this story because I feel in in that situation when I got my citizenship I spent a hard time trying to get it. I, I have to pay a lot of a lot of money for lawyers. I have to go to the court. I get to fight with with it. Many people with a lot of people. And until now, I don't understand how this country be new people from all the countries. And for us, the people living here for a long time and we are here working hard to support the system in any time we are in race to the station. They support us when we are they they they ask when we are all and seek when we give in everything, all or energy, when our children's grow up, we we don't get any friends in our country when or life we are living here now we are with this system in our family is here. We have not no normal life over there. That's why I support these gays. It is I was feeling in this case, my situation. They really can they make it this story that made me cry that that made me cry. Thank you. Thank you so much. Next week. Thank you. My name's Andrew. Do you want to help him out with so we can lift the. You can lift it. There you go. Okay. I just want to make sure that you're right. I appreciate it. Thanks. Okay. Thanks. My name's Andrew Guy, and I actually live in Councilmember Pierce's district. In January, I'll begin classes at Cal State Long Beach during our teaching credential. And it really shames me to think that the university where I'll be earning that credential, was instrumental in tearing apart a family that's so, like so many other families, I'll be serving as an educator in our city. Long Beach prides itself on its diversity, like Councilmember Pearce said, and many families of many different ethnicities and economic backgrounds make the city their home. They were given its character and its vibrancy. And yet one of Long Beach's major institutions caused the Alvarez family to fall victim to a system of immigration and drug control laws that target and disproportionately punish our working class neighbors of color. Many of our friends and neighbors are looking uneasily at the prospect of the next four years under the leadership of a man who has made plain his contempt for them and his disregard for what they contribute to our community. Many of them are as vulnerable to the injustice visited upon the Alvarez family as Mr. Alvarez himself was. Many of these families, the same families at Cal State Long Beach is intended to serve, are afraid to send their children near that campus . It is our duty as a community to protect one another. And the people of Long Beach are looking to the council tonight to help us do so. I hope that the city will do the right thing and assist Mr. Alvarez in getting back to his family and to Long Beach where he belongs. Thank you. Thank you very much. Good luck on that credential. Speaker Hello. My name is Alicia morales, lead organizer with the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, one of the groups on this case, also a resident of the Second District. And I just want to thank you for taking the time to listen to this story and to the community and to the organizations and most importantly, to the family . Through this heartbreaking and tumultuous time. You've heard their fears, you've heard the realities that a lot of our people are living in. And you've also heard their their spirit to keep fighting for justice. The family felt great devastation after the first appeal got denied. The first appeal got denied. And we hope that with your support by passing this resolution, that his second appeal will be heard once again. And hopefully this time the outcome will be different. I encourage you and I ask that you not just support this family, but with everything that's going on in this time with the president that has a president elect that has instilled so much fear in our community. I cannot explain how many tears I have to see and go through every day. People are scared and they need you during this time when fear is common for us. We need to know that you have our back. How you're going to defend us. That you're going to help us. Our livelihood and our safety depend on you. Thank you. Thank you. And then, as it was, Mr. Goodyear, you're the final speaker. Okay. Yes, sir. Good evening. My name is James Davidson on the president of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce, a certified public accountant, a certified government financial manager, and a certified fraud examiner. The topic I'd like to speak on tonight is fraud. Is this the proper time to do that or are you entertaining? Only this topic. Only this. Topic. Okay. I beg your pardon. So when is the. So public comment section is actually over? However, there is at the end of the meeting there is a second public comment period that you're welcome to address. Okay. If if your issue is is not on the agenda tonight, you can address it at the end of the meeting. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Speaker. Very good U cleric as he addressed a number of issues. First of all. No one in this city who's an immigrant here legally should have any concerns whatsoever. Period. I want to address actually the law, as I understand it. And it's rather ironic what took place here this evening that is taking place mirrors what took place in the L.A. County Board of Supervisors chambers about a year ago, where busloads. Busloads of. Busloads of immigrants illegal came in and addressing the need to divorce them, had the county divorced themselves from the federal policy, so forth. And it started out with everybody speaking in their 3 minutes. So many were there. They also had to cut it down after three and a half hours to 2 to 2 minutes and less than that. And. To an event, real. Victims, i.e. or there were three of them whose family is three families whose members whose family members were slaughtered. As a result of gang members illegal that were released from prison because they didn't turn them over to ICE's so it. Again the people in this city who are immigrants. If you're here legally, you should have no problem whatsoever. And I found it rather astounding that we have people from a university that don't understand what happens when a nation does not maintain effective immigration policies. Period. If the man was not stopped because he was of one color or another, he was stopped because he had a red light period. And then they followed the controlling existing law. If the law needs to be changed, you change it. Thank you. Time's up. Thank you. Okay. Public comment is closed. We'll go back to the city council. Councilwoman Price. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you to everyone who came out to speak tonight. I want to start by thanking my colleague, Councilman Urunga. I had an opportunity to speak with him tonight before the council meeting started. And I can't express in words how appreciative I am for the compassion and the sentiment behind this item. And I did not know until tonight that he had actually traveled to the border. And I one of the things that I really value. There's many things I value about my colleagues. But one of the things I really value about him is that he is a man who works very hard and with a lot of passion. And certainly this is one such issue where he's exemplified that passion and the sentiment. And I want to applaud him for his efforts. I think he just has. Bringing this issue forward is a very, very important issue. And I cannot overstate the commitment and the sentiment that he brought and how valuable that is to our community. This council has more immigrants than most other cities in this country. And our commitment to immigrants and immigrant rights is very unique. I believe it was about a year ago that I had the opportunity to vote on an item that supported federal legislation in terms of immigration reform. And I was very proud to support that item and continue to believe it's something that we need to work on as a nation. And I agree with the sentiment of several of the speakers regarding the fear. The fear is real. The fear in light of the election for many people is real. Many people throughout the process of this election were demonized as a result of their religion, their background, because their parents may come from a country that is not one that is of much popularity with certain rhetoric. I understand that fear very personally, and I know that it's real. I do want to say, though, that my. Concern with this item, and I shared this with Councilman Yarrawonga. I've had the opportunity to research this issue since it was first on the agenda several weeks ago and. I reached out to the city attorney today and I reached out to Councilman Yarrawonga about whether there's any way that we could work together as a community and as a city to find a pathway for Josie that's realistic and feasible. Because if you research humanitarian parole, it is a very, very narrow, limited exception within the federal law and one that is extremely difficult to qualify under. That's the reality. I've had the opportunity to research this issue and speak with federal officials who are familiar with humanitarian parole. And one thing that folks on this, people who come to the meetings have realized about me is that you may not always agree with me or my analysis, but I do meet with everyone. I really research things and study hard. And what I don't like to do is give people a sense of false hope because it feels really great in the council chamber when we vote on something and we get the applause. But we know as council members or we might know or we might have a sense that what we're voting on is actually something that we have no power over. We recently voted on an issue like that, and I don't know how we turn around and speak with that community because they left here with a sense of hope. And so my concern with this item is I wonder if my colleagues and this item is going to pass. It's going to pass regardless of how I vote. And that's that's for sure. But I wonder if my colleagues would be interested in having a resolution that goes more towards not this particular case, because there are thousands of families in the same situation as Josie. Thousands. I deal with families like that in my day job and hearing from children who have been victims of crime, who have been separated from their family and trying to survive on their own here in the country, it is very, very tragic what happens to the families. So I wonder if it would be more appropriate for us as a council. To author a resolution that urges, through the help of our congressmen, some changes in the law to allow for situations like this, because humanitarian parole really doesn't apply to this situation. If you read the law, if you read the letter of the law, there's only one element in the elements of that particular law that might qualify for this situation. And it's the public interest element. And there's really nothing about this situation that the federal government, not me, but the federal government is going to consider separate and apart from the other families that are going through this situation to qualify as the public interest exception. So I wonder if there's an interest by my colleagues to author some sort of a resolution that that more urges a change in federal law in regards to this issue, then as to focus on a specific situation, knowing that we may not be as impactful as we'd like ultimately in the outcome. And again, if that's something my colleagues are interested in of this item, I would ask that we urge the city attorney to draft such a resolution. And again, I, I would like to hear from my colleagues if they're interested in that. The other issue I have with this item is I really think this is a federal issue. In this particular case, the federal authorities are given the task of evaluating each application on a case by case basis and making a determination on a case by case basis. We are in the situation now with Josie, and my my heart goes out so desperately to the family. But again, we might have a situation next week or a month from now or six months from now with the family going through the same thing. And how are we going to say no to that family? We can't either author case specific resolutions, but we can as a city, unite to author something that's more general and more broad and hopefully more impactful on the general policy as opposed to a specific situation that may not fall under the parameters. So I commend the authors of this item for bringing it forward. I thank Councilman Yarrawonga for giving me the time today to share with me honestly and allow me to share with him honestly and to respect our differences in regards to the issue at hand. And I thank everyone who came out genuinely from the bottom of my heart for coming out. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Uranium. Thank you. Go to one person and thank you for your price, for your comments and for your recognition of my efforts that we're doing here tonight. There's some things that you said that obviously I can't agree with, and there are some things that, you know, we have to agree to disagree. And to further the discussion in regards to a comprehensive immigration law policy, I don't think is within the purview of this council. I also don't think that we can affect federal change, at least not quickly enough for this case that's taking place, obviously. So I can't support a change in the current language that we have as a draft to support the humanitarian parole. In our discussion that we had earlier, I mentioned about I mentioned four things. You know, there's the law, the spirit of the law. What's the political politically correct and what's right. And I finished my conversation with, I think that this is the right thing to do because of the devastation that has this has caused to a to a family that did not deserve this kind of treatment, a fix it ticket. To go and morph into a. Wider discussion, broad discussion about immigration and immigration rights was just incredible. And that's why we're here, because there was an unauthorized stop. There was a. Ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay effort from a sole police officer to inject himself or herself into an issue that he had no business being in who was first of all outside his jurisdiction to even execute that stop. Just made a lot of things wrong in in this case and that's why I stepping forward in supporting the humanitarian parole. And in the end, this resolution will not change the law. It may not even change Mr. Alvarez's condition. What this resolution does is tell the Department of Homeland Security that he has a community behind him. That he has people who support his case, that he has a community that recognizes that there was a mistake made many years ago. That he paid. Four through service in in in jail. That he paid his his debt to society. And has changed his life around. Which to me raises the question when is it determinable for a person to be considered rehab? I mean, if that's a definition, then where an individual has. Raised a family, raised a son to serve his country, who has started a business paying taxes and sending his kids through school. If that is not if that is not rehabilitation, I don't know what is. And if that is not turning a life around to become a productive citizen of not only Long Beach, but of this country, I don't know what is. You talked about creating a false sense of hope about. What do we have, if not hope? At any time. For any reason. And that's what this resolution does. It provides him with hope. It might not be. The outcome is still up with the Department of Health of Homeland Security is still their decision. All we're doing is saying, please consider all the factors in Mr. Alvarez's background. Consider his family, consider the need that they have for him. I just learned tonight that his wife is hospitalized and going through surgeries. When else is the husband important? To his wife if not at a tire need of of Merkel need at that point. This case goes beyond immigration. This case now becomes truly, truly becomes a humanitarian case. And that's why I urge my fellow colleagues here tonight to please pass this resolution for humanitarian parole, because it is the humanitarian thing for us to do. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Pearce. Thank you. It's hard to follow. You can't remember hearing because I think you said it so well. But I want to be clear, we can do two things today. I want to recognize that the community and the family that's been working so hard to bring Jose back has done their research. They have found the best path that they feel that they can utilize to try to bring Jose back. And so I don't want to undermine any of the work, the tireless nights that you guys have have tried to figure out a way to get Jose home. And so I, of course, will be supporting this item, you know, to say it again, yes, we should do this tonight because it's the right thing to do on a multitude of levels. But too, I want to thank Councilmember Price for bringing up the idea and the concept that, yes, this is one person and one issue, but how are we as a city thinking outside of that? And so to have so many people living in fear every single day means that we have to act today, but that we can also act in a thoughtful manner in the long term. And so I would like to suggest that we do direct staff to figure out what is an overarching policy that we or an ordinance or some direction for our city to say that we have your back, that no resident, as Tonio said, should live in fear of their president, of their police, of their school. And what are we in Long Beach doing to make sure that we can go forward on that path? So when I went to urge a yes vote and to I would like to ask our city attorney if there a process that we can move forward on. Councilwoman Prysmian members. PIERSON Members of the City Council. Obviously, the item that pertains to Mr. Alvarez is on the agenda tonight. The other item that you're discussing really wasn't agenda is outside the scope of Mr. Alvarez's issue. So my suggestion would be if the council wants to entertain, that is another item that that we brought back with a suggestion that it be sent to possibly the federal legislation committee for consideration. That would be the best path to move that forward. Great. Thank you so much. So the the item that we would vote on today would be the same that's in front of everybody. And then we would ask for a second item to be directed to Fed Ledge. For some research on that that we could come back to. And also add that that federal led agenda will be in front of the council shortly. So it's currently going through the review process at Federal Committee and it will be coming shortly to you for you to. Add or delete anything to the agenda you'd like. Great. Thank you. I want to just get a clarification from Councilmember Pearce, because I know that as part of our federal agenda, we have a pretty robust kind of immigration reform agenda. And so that's there in place. So I'm I'm assuming, Councilman Pearce, that what you're discussing is essentially the the that this this would happen this resolution or this addition to the federal legislation that would have to do with this specific type of situation. Yes, right. That yes. Reference by Councilmember Pearce. I just want to clarify. We're not talking about price. Pearce. Price, yes. Sorry. So, yes, I just want to make sure to clarify that, because we do have a large immigration reform policy on the agenda that's going to come before the council in a couple of weeks, I think. And so this is in reference to the families, this specific issue, but broader than that. Okay. Good. Okay, so that's the. So, Councilmember Ranga, do you accept that as I'm assuming a friendly motion from Councilmember Pearce? Actually, I don't think it's a motion. I think it's something that we can bring back at a later date. Okay. You're going to bring it back. Okay. So we bring back another date. That's fine as well. Councilman super now. Thank you. I would also like to thank everyone for speaking tonight and speaking with passion. I, too, met with the councilmember this afternoon and thank you, Councilmember Turanga, for your passion and taking all your time and energy on this. I don't think anyone can deny the the each councilmember support for the immigrant communities. I think we've demonstrated that immensely. But I do want to echo Councilmember Price's concern that we don't want to do something that's misleading or are providing false hope. So I sit here tonight and you have to understand what a councilmember, to paraphrase Don Tanabe, I think he said something like, All I do every day is get up and help people. And that's what we try to do on a daily basis. So I'm thinking here tonight, how can I help this? Okay. As Councilmember Price said, this is going to pass tonight. But if I could add any value here, that's what I'd like to do. And it's very unique that an item like this, I don't receive any correspondence from anyone. And that was the case on this item. I didn't receive an email, a text, any letters, nothing in support of Jose. And what I would recommend moving forward is that that is put together that we have lots of testimonials here. And what's so unique for the fourth District is that this incident took place in my district. And we work very closely with Cal State, Long Beach and also the police force. The there are no northern border of Cal State, Long Beach. It's a fourth council district. And I heard nothing from them. And I just find that kind of fascinating that this with all the interest here tonight, that the agencies involved have not reached out to me. And I think that the point was made about the police force. Cal State Long Beach is a state agency, so you have a state agency somehow getting mixed up with a federal policy. And lo and behold, the irony is here we are at a local level trying to sort this out. Where are they? I would like to see them weigh in on this. I think we have a resolution. But maybe they'd like to speak up about this particular case. And I think that's the best way I can serve you tonight, is to suggest that you go after these entities and get them to come out and say, Hey , we made a mistake. Here's how we'd like to support your cause. So that's really what I have to say tonight. That's my advice. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. There's a motion and a second on the floor. Members, please go ahead and cast your vote. Motion carries. Thank you. I do want to I just want to say one thing not related to this, but it was brought up earlier. So I think it's important to say I'm just going to reiterate something I said a few days ago when I was at Turtle Island. If you know, Charla, they're probably one of the best known groups that deals with immigrant rights really anywhere in the country. And Long Beach has and will continue to be, regardless of what happens at the federal level, supportive of immigrants, those that are undocumented, those are in the process of getting citizenship. Those that are still in students, whether they're part of fuel or they're part of there are maybe 540 students, all that entire community. And I, as an immigrant myself who wasn't born in this country, I always say the best day of my life was the day I was given the opportunity to become an American. And all of particularly the students that are undocumented and the community that's out there, they just want a chance to be able to contribute and be the best they can be for for this country and for their family. So I just want to say that Long Beach will always and this is not a partizan issue. Long Beach will always support its immigrant population, the undocumented community and everyone that calls this place home. We're always going to be supportive of. And so I just want to thank you all for coming out and for your advocacy tonight. Okay. Thank you. We're going to take up item nine, please.