10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 26-JULY 2, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS For as long as anyone can remember, a sign proclaiming Castroville as “The Artichoke Center of the World” has spanned Merritt Street on the main drag of the small North County agricultural town. Records on when the sign was actually installed are spotty, says James Derbin, general manager of the Castroville Community Services District. It was for sure resurfaced in 2017 by the district. Derbin, after estimating the sign originated in the 1950s, did some more digging. He found an article from the Castroville News reporting the sign was dedicated on June 25, 1931. After 94 years, nearly to the date, the sign is headed into retirement—but its replacement will quickly follow. In 2021, then-General Manager Eric Tynan told the Castroville Community Services District’s board of directors that the arch’s poles were rusting from the inside and needed to be replaced. The district received a $500,000 grant from the state’s Clean California program for a new sign and arch, and contracted Prunedale-based Signs by Van to design and construct the sign. An overnight closure of Merritt Street at Preston Street to install the new arch and sign is expected on Monday, June 30, although it may also happen on July 1 or July 2, according to Caltrans. Construction on the new arch coincides with a major project that broke ground earlier in June on Merritt Street/Highway 183. Known as the Castroville Improvement Project, Caltrans’ $38 million project will, among other things, rehab the pavement, reconstruct sidewalks and add pedestrian crossing aids from Del Monte Avenue to the intersection of Highway 1. Center of Attention Castroville’s historic Merritt Street sign is about to be replaced. By Erik Chalhoub As Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeted detentions continue in Monterey County and across the country, residents—including U.S. citizens—are changing their everyday routine for fear of being detained by ICE agents. “Since this is racially motivated, I’m carrying my passport with me.” Natalie Portillo says in Spanish. Natalie is Juan Carlos “JC” Portillo Contreras’s wife. The manager of Wild Fish restaurant in Pacific Grove was detained by ICE during a regular check-in. JC is a Salvadorian citizen seeking asylum in the U.S. He was doing ICE check-ins by phone every few months. His next call had been scheduled for June 11. Natalie says her husband received a notification changing his appointment to an earlier date, June 4. The contact also indicated that next check-in would be in person. Court documents show JC requested in March to expunge some of his earlier DUI convictions to temporarily halt his deportation and stay in the U.S. while his immigration case is resolved. The petition, Form I-246, or Application for Stay of Deportation or Removal, is difficult to obtain and expunging eligible convictions may help his case, documents state. The change surprised JC and his lawyer Sylvia Rodezno, yet they complied. “He showed up and he was detained,” Natalie says. “They put you between a rock and a hard place.” She adds that her husband was following the law. Not showing up automatically triggers immigrants to removal proceedings, Salinas immigration attorney Chris Cain says. At these, a judge will decide the person’s fate. Blanca Zarazua, a Salinas-based immigration attorney, said during a County of Monterey news briefing on June 11 that detentions during courthouse appearances and routine ICE check-ins have increased. According to tracreports.org, a database founded by Syracuse University, there are 56,397 people in ICE’s custody as of June 15. Nearly 72 percent, or 40,433, do not have a criminal record. Natalie hopes for a miracle; meanwhile, she’s struggling to keep up with their bills and groceries. JC has multiple DUI charges. His last arrest was in 2018. Cain says a DUI isn’t a deportable offense, but it can trigger additional scrutiny if there are multiple incidents. “An argument can be made that they have a problem with alcohol [that] it’s a substance abuse issue,” Cain explains. Misdemeanors, charges of domestic violence or theft have higher consequences in an immigration case compared to reckless driving. “He is a very responsible and hardworking man,” Natalie says of JC. “He’s an excellent dad.” Since his detention, Natalie has experienced a whirlwind of emotions: frustration, helplessness and anguish. JC was first taken to Adelanto, California. A few days later, he was moved to El Paso, Texas. For a time Natalie did not know his location. “He wasn’t on the system,” she says. “He disappeared.” According to Natalie, conditions in Texas are worse than in California. Detainees are living in tents under hot weather conditions with no access to showers, phones or medicine. Local residents are advocating for Juan Carlos “JC” Portillo Contreras’ release. A GoFundMe fundraiser has raised nearly $20,000 as of June 24. Legal Freeze The ICE detention of a local man following immigration law sends further ripples through the community. By Celia Jiménez Plans to replace Castroville’s iconic sign have been in the works since 2021, when the Castroville Community Services District’s board noted the rusting arch was becoming a safety hazard. “Since this is racially motivated, I’m carrying my passport.” COURTESY OF LIZ JACOBS DANIEL DREIFUSS
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