The immigration status of a significant portion of the Central Coast’s agricultural workforce creates a structural barrier to climate planning participation, as fear of government-connected processes — including surveys, public meetings, and program enrollment — chills engagement among the frontline communities most exposed to climate hazards like heat, drought, and poor air quality.

• Illustrative example: In the Pajaro Valley, the TCC planning team explicitly limited data collection to anonymous, non-identifying information and prioritized relationship-building over formal participation processes specifically to create safety for undocumented residents — yet even these adaptations were insufficient to fully overcome the fear generated by the current immigration enforcement environment.