SANTA ANA, CA — Carlos Perea is a Santanero at heart. He arrived in the city at age 14 from Mexico to join his family, graduated from nearby Los Amigos High School and Santa Ana College, and went on to become an immigration advocate who led local efforts to create several immigrant aid programs.
Now Mr. Perea, 28, is the first Santa Ana resident who is undocumented to serve on a citywide board, commission or committee. He also is believed to be the first undocumented person to serve in such a capacity among all 34 cities in Orange County.
On Feb. 18, 2020, at the recommendation of Councilmember Vicente Sarmiento, the Santa Ana City Council appointed Mr. Perea to the Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee, a resident-led group that advises the City Council on how revenues and expenditures from the recently approved sales tax measure are utilized.
“The City of Santa Ana is a leader in celebrating and supporting immigrants, which helps keep our community safe, inclusive and economically vibrant,” said Councilmember Sarmiento. “I appreciate Carlos’s courage in being an active member of his community and encouraging others to do the same.”
The Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee was established as part of a sales tax measure, Measure X, which was approved by Santa Ana voters on Nov. 6, 2018. Measure X authorized a 1.5 percent sales tax for 10 years, through 2029, and reducing that sales tax to 1 percent 10 years thereafter, through 2039. The revenues generated from the new sales tax supports the City’s General Fund, which funds emergency 9-1-1 response, fire and police services, homelessness, streets repair, youth and senior services, and more.
In addition to requiring annual audits, the ballot measure also mandated a citizen oversight committee. When the qualifications to serve on the committee were set, the City Council required that a committee member be a resident — instead of a registered voter — of Santa Ana. To be a registered voter, one must be a U.S. citizen. If this were a requirement, undocumented persons would not be allowed to serve on this committee.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee to help ensure that sale tax revenues are spent responsibly and in the best interest of all Santa Ana residents,” Mr. Perea said. “I’m also proud to be part of a community that empowers all of its residents, regardless of their immigration status, to be civically engaged. With easy policy changes, such as eliminating citizenship requirements to serve on the Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee, Santa Ana continues to lead in uplifting
immigrant rights in Orange County by removing barriers to participation in their local government.”
Mr. Perea, who graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, led advocacy and organizing efforts that resulted in the creation of the Santa Ana Sanctuary Ordinance and Santa Ana Universal Representation Program. In 2017, Carlos helped found the Orange County Justice Fund, which advocates for effective legal representation and due process for immigrants in detention and deportation.
The City of Santa Ana facilitates 11 boards, commissions and committees that serve in an advisory role to the City Council. For more information, visit https://www.santa-ana.org/cc/appointed-boards-and-commission.
Congratulations to Carlos Perea for his appointment. But he isn’t the 1st undocumented immigrant to be appointed to a commission in Santa Ana.
Research: 2000 Youth Commission Miguel Pulido Appointee.
Good point. I wonder why that was overlooked?
That is nothing to be proud of. Immigrants are only welcome if they come here the right way. Rules are rules for a reason.
This is ludicrous and invalid!!! What is the point of even becoming a citizen anymore???
I agree! Did his parents do things the right way? He needs to go through the proper channels. How can someone in a position of power keep our county/city/state’s laws? This shameful.
Somehow, it seems that we live a world now where we can just ignore laws that aren’t convenient to us.
Who paid for his education?
American taxpayers
What’s the point of even having a country., Let alone being a citizen. Freeloads of the taxpayers then turns around and advocates for more freeloaders. No secret santa Ana is a s hole. Wonder why.
Obviously, there IS no point anymore, since ANYONE can now just walk in off the street and get the position, no documentation required…in fact, not only is no documentation required, it’s actually BETTER if you don’t even HAVE any! We wonder how long it will be before it becomes illegal to refuse to hire someone for being undocumented. It is already illegal to refuse to hire someone based on national origin…which actually “includes whether they can speak English”…Wait…we have to hire people we can’t even communicate with???
Actually, it seems that it actually IS illegal to refuse to hire someone for being undocumented. So…then, there IS no point in becoming a citizen anymore.
We are so glad our family isn’t alive to see THIS shit anymore! Why they even BOTHERED to become naturalized…pointless. Just POINTLESS!!!!!!!!!!
Ice do you see this ? You know where to find him
And why hasn’t he become a citizen?
Why should he? Nothing stops him from doing whatever he wants to do right now! AND, he has no responsibilities…like if we have a draft, YOU get to go…he won’t. He’s illegal…so he will be able to just tell us words about how much he “loves” this country…he won’t actually be expected to DO anything.