The Californer - California: First Partner meets with farm communities, immigrant support groups in the Inland Empire

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~ Perris, California - On June 18, 2025, the First Partner of California, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, visited the Inland Empire to meet with local communities impacted by the Trump Administration's federal immigration raids. The purpose of her visit was to listen to the stories and experiences of those affected and show support for organizations providing aid to immigrant families.

One of the places Newsom visited was TODEC, a nonprofit organization that has been a lifeline for immigrant families in the Inland Empire. TODEC offers legal support, food distribution, social services, and mental health resources to those in need. During her visit, Newsom met with staff and families who have been impacted by the federal immigration raids. She also joined the TODEC team in delivering food donations to farmworkers who were too afraid to leave their homes due to ongoing ICE raids.

In an interview with journalists, Newsom shared her experience at TODEC and expressed her concern for the families she met. "I listened to accounts from grandmothers, mothers, and children - of families afraid of leaving their homes, fathers who committed suicide because they were unable to work," she said. "This is a campaign of terror on American soil - aimed at some of the hardest working people on earth - and the farms who supply our nation's food."

Newsom also highlighted the economic impact of these raids on California's agricultural industry. "In addition to being morally unconscionable, the actions of the federal administration are economically disastrous," she stated. "California is the world's fifth-largest producer of agricultural products. That doesn't happen without the hands, hearts, and labor of immigrant workers."

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Luz Gallegos, Executive Director of TODEC, expressed gratitude for Newsom's visit and compassion towards their community. "We're grateful for the First Partner's compassion and for showing up for this community," she said. "She listened and saw firsthand the suffering these families are enduring, but also saw their resilience. At a time when too many are turning away from what is happening here, she is leaning in."

TODEC has been a hub for healing, organizing, advocacy, and community transformation for almost 40 years. They provide various services such as a 24/7 crisis hotline, mental health support, home-based deliveries of groceries and medicine, financial assistance for families in need, and more.

In addition to supporting local residents with immigration services, TODEC has been a longtime advocate for commonsense immigration reforms. They have been pushing for legal pathways that allow people to safely live, work, and continue contributing to California since the Reagan Administration.

Newsom's visit to the Inland Empire also highlighted her advocacy for California's farmers and agricultural communities. She played a crucial role in creating California's Farm to School program, which provides healthy meals to nearly half of the state's school children by working with local organic farms. She also championed the Universal Meals program that ensures all Californian students have access to two free school meals each day that are nutritious and locally-sourced.

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Furthermore, Newsom is a leading advocate for the mental health and well-being of all Californian children. Under her leadership and Governor Gavin Newsom's administration, California has invested billions in the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. This initiative aims to make mental health services available, affordable, and accessible to youth whenever they need support.

Through this initiative, children and their families can access free online behavioral health services in Spanish and English languages. They can also access video and print resources such as California Positive Parenting and online training on recognizing and responding to trauma in kids.

In recent news releases from Governor Newsom's office on July 7th 2025, it was announced that skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members were deployed to Texas to assist with ongoing response efforts related to severe flooding impacts. Additionally, California has made significant progress towards its goal of conserving 30% of its land and coastal waters by adding an area equivalent to Glacier National Park in just one year. Governor Newsom also announced several appointments, including Thanne Berg as the Deputy Director of Site Mitigation and Restoration Program at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Overall, Newsom's visit to the Inland Empire highlighted her commitment to supporting communities impacted by federal immigration policies and her advocacy for the well-being of all Californians.

Filed Under: Government, State

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