Santa Clarita has a long history of immigration, much like the rest of the LA area and wider California. Recent immigration bills have been highlighted by the Los Angeles Daily News as opportunities for the city’s undocumented residents to enjoy recognition for their contribution to the surrounding area. Yet city lawmakers have, in the past, shown a more conservative view on the topic. With the new administration comes new rules, and they will have an impact on the city.

Farm workers

While the federal administration will seek to target areas of immigration, there is always the local influence to consider. GOP candidates pitched a diverse and balanced appeal to communities like those in Santa Clarita, according to the LA Times, and won seats as a result, coming from immigrant backgrounds themselves. Whether that will translate into policy remains to be seen. Immigration experts Farmer Law have highlighted the issues faced by seasonal and undocumented workers moving into southern states like California. New federal action may change how they are treated and provide avenues of legal redress.

Challenges workers face

There remain clear barriers to normal life facing immigrants in California. In late March, Mercury News highlighted the case of one worker family that had been turned away from a vaccination center despite having a right to attend. These stories are not uncommon, and highlight the inequalities that exist within the system and continue to penalize immigrant workers – even when invited to the USA.

Is change afoot?

The new immigration bills provide a route to citizenship for dreamers. There has also been a mooted scaling down of ICE operations, which had arguably unfairly prejudiced immigrants coming in from the southern border. However, Santa Clarita sided with more right-leaning GOP policies as recently as 2018, when they rejected the sanctuary city motion that California was enacting in response to federal pressure. With GOP representatives in the city once again, there might not be an entirely clear-cut way forward for immigration reform. This isn’t necessarily a negative, nor a positive, but it does show that the political landscape isn’t entirely clear.

Whichever way it goes, the hope is that the law is fair and humane for immigrants in Santa Clarita and beyond. In the current day, basic humanity goes a long way to helping to create a better future for many. Santa Clarita can have a part to play in that.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.