Measure K, written by lawyer Eric Kirk, will be on the November ballot and would make Humboldt County a sanctuary county along with 300 other jurisdictions nationally. | Photo by Tony Wallin

Humboldt County Sanctuary

Measure K aims to keep families together
Translate

Measure K aims to keep families together

An elderly woman with dementia taken away from her family by U.S Immigration and Custom Enforcement and deported. A young mother in her late 30s swept away by ICE and taken to a prison in Bakersfield for nine months even in spite of being here since she was five years old, married to a U.S. citizen and raising two children born as U.S. citizens.

Stories like these, where people are arrested for no other crime than lack of citizenship, are why Erik Kirk wrote local ballot Measure K.

“Criminal law and immigration law should be separate,” Kirk said.

Kirk, a lawyer, was asked by Centro Del Pueblo, a non-profit community service agency, to write a draft of an ordinance pertaining sanctuary for Humboldt county.

A sanctuary ordinance would prohibit local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities with detainment. Typically sanctuary ordinances apply to cities rather than counties.

Kirk said Centro Del Pueblo proposed to the board of directors about making Humboldt county a sanctuary county, but they felt the board was unresponsive, so they asked him to write it for them.

Measure K, on the November ballot, would make Humboldt County a sanctuary county along with 30 sanctuary jurisdictions around the nation. Kirk said the measurement would be an extension of an existing law, AB54, which is a statewide ordinance that prohibits law authorities from cooperating with ICE.

“Our current laws are outdated and we need to change that,” Kirk said.

Measure K would help law enforcement by encouraging crime reporting and cooperation from the undocumented community. Immigrants may be more likely to consistently take children to school and access health care and vital services, affecting the overall greater community.

Kirk said the measurement will limit cooperation with ICE with just suspected immigration violation. The measurement will not in anyway prevent law enforcement with proceeding criminal provisions.

The Times Standard reported the ordinance would cost hundred of thousands of dollars. Kirk said this is a number he has no idea how it was calculated.

Sheriff William Honsal claimed he would have to track ICE deputies. Estimated tracking and reporting communications between ICE with new measurement would be between $85,000-$135,000. Kirk said this is false information.

Kirk said the probation department has to do the same tracking and reporting of communication with ICE as they do with the sheriff, and their estimates were $1250-$2500.

“I think the sheriff wants to deport whoever he wants and we think that isn’t right,” Kirk said.

Kelsey Reed, a member of the Humboldt Green Party and Move to Amend coalition, said the measurement allows parents to decide where their kids go when they get deported. As the law stands now, when parents are deported they are no longer able to make decisions where their children end up. Kids usually get left at home alone or taken to foster care.

“This is an overall humanity issue and several families have been destroyed because of ICE,” Reed said.

Reed said this is the most radical sanctuary ordinance proposed in a county. Through the ordinance, ICE would be required to only make certain arrests in certain areas and that parents wouldn’t be able to get arrested in front of their children.

Reverend Bryan Jessup is the minister of the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship which is one of the faith based organizations to support Measure K. Jessup’s congregations have been a sanctuary since June of 2017 and is a safe place for people subject to abuse from ICE.

Jessup said the congregation doesn’t want Humboldt County to be a part of what is going on around the country regarding immigration policy.

“We would like to stand up for humanity, our people are willing to shelter immigrants,” Jessup said.

Christi Molina, English senior, is a peer mentor at Scholars Without Borders who works closely with Centro Del Pueblo. Molina said the measurement would affect her personally because some of her family would be documented as immigrants.

Molina said the students in the area are supportive of the measurement and that makes her hopeful of it passing. They know the measurement is against separation of family and keeping communities intact.

“This is a way to not only keep family together but to respect human rights and culture,” Molina said.

Humboldt State University’s Undocu Week, a week of events dedicated to “deconstructing misrepresentations of communities of color,” takes place Oct. 1 – Oct. 5.

Share This Post

More Stories

Nina G uses comedy to start conversations

During the virtual comedy event held by the SDRC, Nina Ghiselli tells her story and emphasizes the importance of student disability resources within schools.

It’s not just the Capitol Police

As the world watched from their televisions on January 6, we witnessed scenes unfold before our eyes that were, to many, unimaginable: supporters of President Trump swarmed the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, then proceeded to break in and

The San Jose State University Football Team Comes to Humboldt

On a day’s notice from administration, the SJSU football team spends a week and a half in Humboldt practicing because their county did not allow it. Students react to their presence on campus in the midst of a pandemic. Directed

Homelessness in Humboldt, CA

This is the first trailer of a homeless documentary created by HSU students. We have spent months filming and will continue to film throughout the next year. Follow the heartbreaking stories of the homeless community around Humboldt county and the

Thrifty Arcata

Taking a tour of the local thrift shops in Arcata during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed and produced by Skylar Gaven.

House Plants Generate Peace and Meaning During the Pandemic

Three different people with the same love for plants! House plants have become quite popular these days especially since we’re all basically stuck inside during the pandemic. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but these beautiful green oxygen-makers provide more

Prop 22 represents political favoritism of money over workers’ rights

California’s passing of proposition 22 on Nov. 5 represents a frustrating history of workers’ rights being trampled by the overwhelming influence of greed in politics.  This proposition forces app-based workers to be classified as independent contractors, rather than employees. This

Remembering Evelyn Andrews 10 months after her passing

By Katelyn Dendas It has been 10 months since my friend, teammate and freshman year dorm mate, Evelyn Andrews, passed away. I don’t remember what the grief counselor said or what transpired after that Monday, but I do remember arriving

Protestors seek to defund HSUPD

Two local, activist organizations work together to stage a sit-in against Humboldt State’s police department.

Getting stuck on the Trump train

Writer Anthony Aragon details his experience of accidentally joining a pro-Trump car rally.

Justin Turner exposes the World Series to COVID-19

Justin Turner didn’t need to be the story in the wake of the Dodgers’ first World Series victory in 32 years. Instead here we are, wondering what sort of, if any, punishment Major League Baseball will decide to hand down

Four more years of fear

News Editor Carlos Holguin explains why he is worried about the next four years.

Dismal democracy

The Lumberjack editorial staff comments on America’s flawed electoral system As the world watches the United States 2020 election results, waiting for our pseudodemocratic process to churn out a new president, historically unprecedented voting methods misrepresents the reported Election Day

The Mario triple pack invokes a nostalgia attack

When I was a child, the first video game system I owned was a Nintendo 64. Among the games I played was Super Mario 64. I played it all the time and when I wasn’t playing it, I was lying

Women’s lacrosse drops their competitive season

Greta Roberts, president and player of Humboldt State University’s women’s lacrosse team, made the decision with her coach and teammates to cancel the upcoming spring season. The team decided that not being able to recruit in the fall would be

Dobby’s proposition opinions

Haven’t voted yet? Well, you’re running out of time. Here’s a quick rundown of California’s propositions on the ballot this year

Corporations buy out propositions

In a series of general and misleading advertisements, corporate backers of Propositions 22 and 23 show their grubby hands

CDOR continues virtually

The Campus and Community Dialogue On Race returns covering global justice for Black Lives.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty

Local food management practices of the Tolowa Dee-ni, Yurok and other indigenous peoples.

Humboldt State Admin attempts to discredit the Lumberjack

***A Lumberjack editorial represents both the majority opinion of the student newspaper’s editorial board, nine editors, as well as the overwhelming majority of Humboldt State University’s student body. Collectively, an editorial echos, embodies and advocates for community beliefs.*** Insensitive communications

Music of the Moment 6

21 Savage and Metro Boomin drop a classic with “Savage Mode II”

Spartans arrive at HSU despite campus concerns

***Editor’s note: SJSU football program was tested in congruence with Mountain West conference guidelines*** The Spartans have arrived and this time they’re not carrying spears or shields. Instead the San Jose State football team stepped onto the Humboldt State campus

Music of the Moment 5

After shooting Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez cancels himself

Welcome to the Twilight Zone

Comparisons between episodes of the classic TV show The Twilight Zone and our own dismal reality

Music of the Moment 4

YoungBoy Never Broke Again dodges the sophomore slump with his new album “Top.”

Self-Care Cuts

Changing your hair to change your life

HSU Seaweed Farm sets sail

The first commercially-approved seaweed farm in California will be on the map.

Music of the Moment 3

For better or worse, Big Sean is likely gone for good.

More Layers, More Protection?

Humboldt State demands double masking on campus, does more layers equal more protection?

The Ethnic Studies Bill is a Blessing

Ethnic Studies will thankfully become mandatory for all California State University students – as it should be.

The Complex Interface of Humans and Wildfires

How fire suppression is a mixed bag in Humboldt County Every fire season, blankets of smoke roll over Humboldt County. Here on the coast, that’s as close to wildfires as some of us get. But our practice of fire suppression

Defund HSU’s Police Department

Incidents of racism from the former UPD Chief, past examples of excessive force from current officers and a shrinking university budget.

How Not To Be Bitten By A Kitten

Please prepare to be prey Congratulations, a baby feline has recently come into your life. If they’re anywhere from 2-18 months, they bite. They see you as prey. Because you are prey. You always have been. You always will be.

Graduating Into Uncharted Waters

HSU graduates attempt to navigate a world turned upside-down by COVID-19 In May, Humboldt State University graduated hundreds of students, as it does every year. Unlike past years, graduates didn’t get to shake hands with their respective dean and receive

HSU Cultural Center Budget Slashed

Associated Students leaves student body devastated after significant reductions in cultural center’s budget.

All aboard the plague ship

Unprecedented times are met with normalized behavior, HSU puts students and community members at higher risk after reopening campus and student housing.

Music of the Moment

The hip-hop community rallies behind the Black Lives Matter Movement

Inside the Immune System

How the body uses multiple levels of defense against foreign intruders

Catcalling Can’t Continue

Verbal harassment toward women is about control and the assertion of gender discrimination

Major League Marijuana

Why I don’t think marijuana is everything it’s cracked up to be in baseball

Pigs Compost on Campus

CCAT tries to reduce HSU’s food waste footprint through new pig program