Quick Take Local government and nonprofit leaders joined Rep. Jimmy Panetta Tuesday afternoon to reassure Santa Cruz County’s immigrant community that they are committed to supporting them as deportation fears continue. Local government officials and nonprofit leaders say they remain committed to helping and supporting Santa Cruz County’s immigrant community as deportation fears continue. Panetta said that the “ever-present” fear many immigrants have been feeling over the past two years was caused by the federal immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Chris Clark speaks at the county courthouse in November 2024. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz“We used to see those with no strings,” he said. Last year, Clark vowed to no longer apply for a grant that provided federal officials with information on undocumented people incarcerated in Santa Cruz County jails.