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<br />Alcala, Abigail <br />From:Juliana Phan <phan.julie5374@gmail.com> <br />Sent:Tuesday, October <br />To:eComment <br />Subject:10/17 Agenda Item #27: Non-Citizen Voting <br />Hello Santa Ana City Council, <br /> <br />I’m Juliana Phan and I’m a resident of Orange County, as well as a volunteer with VietRISE, who has <br />strong ties to the immigrant community, especially around Anaheim, Little Saigon, and Santa Ana. I <br />had attended the 10/17 city council meeting over Zoom but was unable to speak. I am in support of <br />Agenda item #27, permitting Noncitizen Voting in Municipal Elections on the 2024 General Election <br />ballot. <br /> <br />Nearly half of Santa Ana's population are first-generation immigrants, which does not even account <br />for their children and families who were born in the US. It is the culture, sacrifices, and experiences of <br />these immigrants that make Santa Ana the city that it is. They start their businesses here, they go to <br />work here, they go to school here, they raise their children here, they even pay their taxes here, and <br />they are part of a cycle of learning, understanding, and growth within the Santa Ana community. The <br />immigrant community here in Orange County have a wide range of backgrounds and statuses, and <br />growing up with them has defined how I am now. For many immigrants and immigrant families, <br />myself included, Orange County is our home—immigrants who happen to not be citizens still belong <br />here and are equal to all other Santa Ana residents in every way except their immigration status. To <br />neglect the immigrants who are not citizens by denying them the right to vote is an injustice to the <br />community that contributes most to this city and punishes immigrants for living in a system that <br />methodically complicates the path to citizenship. Santa Ana's municipal offices do not only affect the <br />residents who are citizens—they represent everyone in Santa Ana, so they must be elected by them <br />as well. <br /> <br />Once again, I support agenda item #27 regarding non-citizen voting. Thank you so much, and I hope <br />you have a good day. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br />Juliana Phan <br /> <br />1 <br />