Mayor Steinberg, Sacramento leaders discuss migrants’ experiences and prepare for more
Religious and community leaders on Tuesday urged compassion for the 36 Central and South American migrants who arrived in Sacramento in two separate private chartered flights amid ongoing questions about who orchestrated the trip.
The first group of 16 migrants landed Friday and were bused to the doorstep of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento. Three days later, a second group of 20 individuals was flown over in the same plane.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom have said they believe both flights were arranged by the state of Florida and its governor, Ron DeSantis. DeSantis did not take any media questions on Tuesday, his first public appearance since the migrant flights.
During Tuesday’s news conference at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in midtown, the coalition’s leaders avoided speaking about DeSantis, deflecting political questions, but reinforced the idea that migrants were intentionally deceived to board the planes.
The migrants — most from Venezuela and between 20 to 30 years old — were approached outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, where people representing a “contracting organization” convinced them to relocate for housing and job opportunities, according to Sacramento ACT, a collaboration of Sacramento area religious congregations. Most migrants were not approached as a cohesive unit, with the ordeals resembling more of a “trickling situation.”
“Some of them walked from seven to three months just to get here in search of the American Dream,” said Gabby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento ACT. “That dream quickly became a nightmare. They were lied to and deceived.”
Since arriving Friday, local faith-based organizations have collaborated to provide services for the two groups. The migrants have been given housing in an undisclosed location, received cellphones to contact family, taken shopping for clothing and some attended mass Sunday at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church near Southside Park.
Many are still adjusting to Sacramento weather, which is comparatively cooler than Latin American countries, said Trejo.
She and other community leaders also described experiences with the migrants over the last four days that demonstrate gratitude and a desire to be “incorporated fully into our community.”
Shireen Miles, a Sacramento ACT volunteer, shared a recorded message from a Colombian man, who migrated because his family lacked resources and money. Miles took the man and others to a thrift store over the weekend.
“Que viva la gente de Sacramento,” (Long live the people of Sacramento), the migrant said in the recording.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg met with the migrants Monday night and detailed their desire to begin working. He called that desire the “immigrant story” of the United States for 300 years.
“The only thing they want is the opportunity to give back, to work hard and to contribute to this country so that they can help their families,” Steinberg said.
Steinberg declined to answer questions about who is responsible for the migrants being sent to Sacramento but seemingly referenced DeSantis.
“They, or he, is not worth dignifying,” he said.
Many of the migrants have court appointments elsewhere in the country, with some beginning within the next two weeks. Nonprofit immigrant advocacy groups have deployed lawyers to Sacramento to offer assistance.
Trejo said although some migrants seem open to the idea of remaining in Sacramento, they can leave at any time. Four migrants have already left Sacramento through transportation from their relatives.
“Some of them were hoping to be reunited with friends or family throughout the country,” said Cecilia Flores, a spokeswoman for Sacramento ACT. “And then there are a good number of them whose destination was the United States.”
If more migrants should arrive in Sacramento, community leaders said they were prepared and would help them as well.
“Nothing would surprise us and we will be prepared and ready to welcome people who need our help,” said Steinberg.
This story was originally published June 6, 2023 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Mayor Steinberg, Sacramento leaders discuss migrants’ experiences and prepare for more."
