Multiple residents told the Camarillo City Council on Sept. 10 they are alarmed by recent immigration enforcement activity in the region and urged the council to take a coordinated, citywide approach, including forming an immigration response and resource committee.
Joseph Dobzinski Jr., a Camarillo resident, told the council "No more. No more of our hands are tied." He said video releases and public information from other agencies are outdated and, he said, are "doing more harm than good now." Dobzinski described a perceived lack of progress since incidents he referenced and asked the council what it is doing "as a council, not in your individual capacities, but as council members." He urged the mayor and council to contact federal representatives and to set up meetings to seek coordinated solutions, naming Rep. Julia Brownley, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Sen. Adam Schiff and Sen. Alex Padilla as offices to engage.
Becky Palazzola, a 30-year Camarillo resident, asked if a proposed $50,000 donation for legal fees (raised by speakers at prior meetings) had been approved; the clerk replied it had not been approved. Palazzola said funds could instead be used for after-school reading and writing programs or trade-school training, and argued trade skills build stronger local communities.
Why this matters: speakers said they fear local residents could be harmed by enforcement activity and described public-information gaps and a need for local coordination. Those who addressed the council sought concrete steps, including a council-led committee to coordinate local resources, community outreach and engagement with regional and federal partners.
Discussion points: public commenters pressed the council to convene a city-level immigration response committee to coordinate services and outreach; speakers asked the council to contact and meet with federal officials; speakers also criticized council members perceived as unwilling to act and asked the council to consider funding legal support or alternative community programs. Several speakers contrasted Camarillo’s response with other nearby cities that have formed committees or passed protective policies.
Council response and outcome: the remarks occurred during the general public comment period. Council members did not take any formal action on the requests during the Sept. 10 meeting. No motion was made or vote taken on forming a committee or approving legal funding at the meeting.
Clarifying details: Joseph Dobzinski Jr. stated a video distributed by another agency described a temporary restraining order and that, as of his remarks, that order was "no longer the case as of Monday morning." The clerk confirmed the proposed $50,000 donation for legal fees had not been approved by the council. Speakers referenced other local governments (Oxnard, Santa Paula) that have formed committees or taken actions; those references were presented by commenters, not as formal council findings.
Next steps: items raised by public commenters would require separate council agenda items or staff reports for formal consideration; no staff direction or formal referral was recorded on Sept. 10.