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Flores, Dora From:Christian Lawrenz <chris.lawrenz12@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, February 4, To:eComment Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Bacerra, Phil; Phan, Thai; Penaloza, David; Lopez, Jessie; Hernandez, Johnathan; Vazquez, Benjamin Subject:Agenda Item 21: Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links. Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, My name is Chris Lawrenz, and I am writing to urge you to reinstate the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group by moving forward with Agenda Item 21. As the Chair of the Immigrant Justice Working Group for Orange County DSA, I am deeply committed to protecting the rights and dignity of immigrants in Santa Ana. My grandparents came to this country for economic opportunities and a better life for my mother and her siblings. While they were fortunate to have the ability to enter the country through legal means and obtain citizenship, that is not realistic for many people in our current day legal/political landscape. The only thing differentiating those deemed "illegal" and "legal" is paperwork. Ultimately, immigrants are human beings and deserve to live a dignified life without the fear of deportation, detention, or exploitation. In 2017, the City Council passed a strong Sanctuary Ordinance, which included a provision to create a community-led advisory group. This body was designed to guide city policies affecting immigrants and oversee a city fund to assist residents in deportation proceedings. Unfortunately, the advisory group has not met for some time. Given the current climate of uncertainty, now is the time for the City of Santa Ana to take decisive action and renew its commitment to immigrant rights by reconvening this group. Santa Ana has long been a leader in standing up for immigrant communities, and its sanctuary status reflects the tireless advocacy of residents. Reviving the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group would strengthen transparency, rebuild trust, and ensure that immigrant voices are at the center of policymaking. I strongly support Councilwoman Lopez's request that the advisory group reconvene within 30 days to provide recommendations on how the city can better serve and protect its residents. I appreciate your time and leadership on this critical issue. I look forward to seeing the reimplementation of the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group and its positive impact on our community. Best, Chris Lawrenz OC-DSA, Chair of the Immigrant Justice Working Group City of La Palma 3