This California political leader wants federal immigration reform. First, she has to survive Trump

"Since President Trump's immigration raids began sweeping through California's cities and farm fields, state Senate President Monique Limón has carried a copy of her passport. "Just in case," she said. Limón is one of the most powerful politicians in the state behind Gov. Gavin Newsom, but the detainment of American citizens, including U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla - who was handcuffed by federal agents in Los Angeles in June - showed that no Latino in California is safe."

"In July, a farmworker in the country illegally fell to his death during an immigration raid in Camarillo, part of her district, and fear of other sweeps prompted the recent cancellation of a holiday parade in her hometown of Santa Barbara. Locals have been detained while walking to the grocery store, she said. "There's this fear of racial profiling that is happening that I think is very real," said Limón, 46."

"The granddaughter of a Mexican farmworker and the first Latina elected Senate president, Limón ascended to the post in November after a tumultuous year that saw the Democratic-led state under constant attack from Trump and the Republican leadership in Congress. The coming months will test Limón as the Trump administration ramps up deportations, looks to expand offshore drilling off the Santa Barbara coastline and slashes federal funding for Medicaid and other programs."

Monique Limón carries a copy of her passport amid sweeping immigration raids across California cities and farm fields. Detainment of American citizens, including U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla being handcuffed by federal agents in Los Angeles, signaled that Latinos statewide face heightened vulnerability. A farmworker in Camarillo died during a July immigration raid, and fear of additional sweeps prompted cancellation of a holiday parade in Santa Barbara. Locals have been detained while walking to grocery stores, fueling real fear of racial profiling. Limón, the granddaughter of a Mexican farmworker and the first Latina Senate president, must navigate deportation increases, proposed offshore drilling, federal funding cuts and a state budget deficit.

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