City of Carpinteria Votes to Favor Illegals Over Citizens

By Denice Spangler Adams

Santa Barbara Current

Jul 14, 2025

146

City of Carpinteria Votes to Favor Illegals Over Citizens

Do you want public money appropriated to selected non-governmental organizations NGOs) by your elected representatives?

Citizen-residents need to inform our elected reps of constituent priorities before they pursue funding.

On July 10, the Carpinteria City Council unanimously decided to proceed with its plan to fund NGOs to assist undocumented residents in the name of ‘The Community’ to “show support and provide protection.” Afterall, these residents are “good people,” no doubt; part of the greater community.

However, isn’t it first appropriate and essential to take a poll of ‘The Community? Is there not more than one resident of Carpinteria who supports the U.S. Constitution and respects execution of existing laws, including those against child slave labor or human trafficking? Are there no local citizens respectful of executing a duly issued judge’s court ordered warrant to protect young, dependent, and abused, children?

So far there are only a handful in South County who have the courage, the decency to speak publicly to address migrant issues at various televised Council meetings: Congressional Candidate Bob Smith, Justin Shores, and me. Where are the SBGOP elected District representatives? Are they as dysfunctional as our anti-ICE Congressional representative who brags about encouraging law breakers?

During public comment, it’s usually one or two of us, versus 50 or more speakers affiliated with funded NGOs and NPOs (non-profit organizations) demanding sanctuary, amnesty, or other protections from law enforcement. The latest demand, supported 5-0 by the Carp Council, is for public funding — your tax dollars — appropriated to shield undocumented aliens from detection by funding NGOs to provide for their needs while hiding.

8 U.S.C. § 1324 prohibit actions such as bringing unauthorized aliens into the country, transporting them within the U.S. in violation of immigration laws, or concealing, harboring, or shielding them from detection. These actions can lead to significant criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

What are your thoughts on demanding every South County City Council, plus Board of Supervisor District 1 Representative Roy Lee, and District 2 Rep Laura Capps authorize and fund a poll of local citizens on migrants? How about a subset of responses from property taxpayers – those who fund public K-14 schools and other services to all residents of our community? Responses from underpaid local citizens seeking an affordable life here would be another noteworthy subset.

Nationally, we have too many men in inner-city projects needing paid work, and housing provisions. We have 12 million STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) unemployed and under-employed grads; plus 35M other grads with unfilled promises of a better life for pursuing skills and learning.

Locally, we hear often from the discouraged, the bitter, the angry, via their affiliated NGOs. Additionally, we likely each know a struggling young adult who attended a SBUSD, Carpinteria, or other failed elementary school.

If locals support South County governments — already in deficit spending — to fund NGOs for the specific benefit of assisting undocumented residents so, be it. Otherwise, private donors historically can and will fill any funding void. Face it: we’re broke, and too many of us over-taxed.

Be Topic Informed

1) Food Security: protect farmland from foreign ownership; temporarily allow ag employers needed foreign labor for 18 months. The Department of Labor (DOL) is proposing to amend its regulations governing the certification of agricultural labor to be performed by temporary foreign workers in H-2A nonimmigrant status (H-2A workers) and enforcement of the contractual obligations applicable to employers of such nonimmigrant workers.

2) The Bad Guys: Donor elite class of both political parties demand cheap labor, plus parents and homeowners unwilling to do the required work. We must entirely end H1B VISAs and/or at minimum end employer adjusted extensions to VISA expiration dates; also, eliminate the OPT Program (Optional Practical Training) that subsidizes employers to hire foreigners over Americans.

3) Get Real: Major employers are downsizing due to automation, AI, and economic factors. One example, Microsoft reports that 50% of white collar employees will be gone within the next 3 years.

4) Citizen Rights - Unlawful immigration, migration, VISA overstays are proven national security, citizen safety issues. It’s the job of the federal government to protect citizens and national sovereignty.

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For All To Know

Santa Barbara High Alum, Hall of Famer, and nationally acclaimed Author, Margaret ‘Peggy’ Sands Orchowski is in town to kick off Fiesta. Her newly released publication is “Confronting Confusion: The 5 Basics Everyone Should Know About Immigration.” Peggy is a Credentialed Congressional Correspondent. Pick up a copy.

This pocket guide enables everyone to talk about immigration clearly and not confuse migrants and immigrants. Peggy’s first national best seller was on the 1965 Immigration Act ,“The Law That Changed America.”

Act or Hold Your Tongue

Solutions require Congressional Action, codification, and activism. 2026 is not far away. Focus, participate, lead, donate time and dollars.

ICE Agents have earned our support by their courage to do what the majority will not. Take a stand.

Remember: we are judged by both your friends and our enemies. Look in the mirror; self-identify. Decide who you are, the America you want. Then get involved: Act!

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If interested, I’ll host a discussion for Santa Barbara Current readers. I’ve been involved with this topic since 1987, regularly attending DC meetings with national immigration groups. Here in SB since 1980. Fastread@icloud.com.