Half Moon Bay’s immigrant and farmworker communities are fearful

That’s leading to a major increase in rapid response hotline calls asking about alleged Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings, said Luis Bazán, a board member at Latino cultural arts and programming organization Ayudando Latinos A Soñar.

“As you can imagine, fear is a big component of this equation of what we’re going through,” he said. “Not only fear that comes from the federal government, but how is that enabling other people to act.” 

Bazán said the organization is working to respond to the rumors, verify them, and then call individuals back so that false information doesn’t spread. 

None of those rumors have been confirmed, said Rita Mancera, executive director of Puente de la Costa Sur — another nonprofit that has been working to verify claims. The city could work with ALAS, Puente and Coastside Hope to communicate that information, Mancera said. 

“We believe that the city of Half Moon Bay, with the reach you have to a lot of community members, businesses and organizations, could also support these efforts to provide clear and factual information,” she said. 

Councilmembers also discussed the county’s sanctuary status and no-collaboration policy with ICE. The Sheriff’s Office, which provides services to Half Moon Bay, will not work with immigration agencies in any way, Sheriff’s Capt. Richard Cheechov affirmed. 

“We do not cooperate with any immigration agency, and I use that term very carefully, because it’s inclusive,” he said. “Any immigration agency — they are not allowed in our jails, we do not release any information to them. To us, they are nothing more than other citizens.” 

Sanctuary city status or noncooperation policies cannot prohibit autonomous ICE activity, arrests or deportations. Regardless, Councilmember Deborah Penrose floated the idea of officially making Half Moon Bay a sanctuary city so community members felt supported. 

“I do think that it might be wise of us, kind of us, loving of us as a council to take another look at declaring ourselves a sanctuary city,” she said. “Not because the county is not doing a really good job promising sanctuary, but because our community needs to feel the rest of the city — the city staff and City Council — are with them.” 

While the City Council didn’t take any action at its meeting Jan. 4, city staff will continue to work in tandem with nonprofits, staff said. Councilmember Debbie Ruddock also inquired about business, church and school plans as federal orders eliminate sanctuary areas for undocumented individuals. 

“Schools and churches are no longer safe spaces, so what is the school doing, what is the church doing, what are employers doing, what are farmers doing, what are small businesses doing, [what are] restaurants doing that employ these people?” she said. 

As nonprofits continue to deal with ongoing issues, larger questions continue to linger. 

“What are we going to do when there is a real arrest? And that is the key,” Bazán said. “Usually the person who is arrested is the breadwinner of the family. How are they going to pay rent? How are they going to feed their children?” 

In case of ICE activity, residents can call (203) 666-4472 ((203) NO-MIGRA)