I am the former mayor of Guadalupe, a small agricultural city with a population of less than 10,000 on the beautiful Central Coast of California. I am writing to you, Mr. President, to respectfully urge you to create a legal program for all honest and hardworking migrants who have labored for years, some even decades, for our local farmers, hotel owners, restaurant owners, and many other small businesses reliant on migrant workers.
I agree with you that all criminals, gang members, and released prisoners from other countries should immediately be arrested and sent back to their countries of origin; but these are not the migrants that I am advocating for. I advocate for the hardworking migrants who find pride in an honest day’s work and in providing for their families.
As a businessman at heart, who knows how essential a stable workforce is for any industry to succeed, let’s make America stronger and better than ever. I implore you to work with Congress, on both sides of the aisle, and fast-track any program, whether permanent or temporary, to provide for the stability of America’s industries.
In closing, Mr. President, doing nothing is not an option for Guadalupe, Santa Barbara County, California, or the United States of America. The time to act and lead is today, and not tomorrow!
Lupe Alvarez
former mayor of Guadalupe
This article appears in Jul 24 – Aug 3, 2025.