With newly inaugurated Pres. Donald Trump wasting no time in launching policies targeting undocumented immigrants, fear is rising among such communities in California.
Last week, border-patrol agents showed up in unmarked vehicles in Fresno and Kern Counties and arrested at least 78 undocumented immigrants, according to ABC7. And Tuesday Trump signed another order to revoke birthright citizenship — the right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing citizenship to anyone born in the country or its territories regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
One of Trump’s immigration orders Monday threatened to pull federal money from “sanctuary jurisdictions” that limit collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies.
In his inaugural speech, Trump promised to deport “millions and millions” of people, although local immigration nonprofits have warned against spreading fear in immigrant communities through news of unverified raids.
In particular, they’ve cautioned: Do not spread rumors on social media. Do not help the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spread panic. Do not pass on unverified reports of raids.
They have also called for the population to stay alert, informed and, most important, to know they have rights under the law.
While Richmond’s undocumented population remains uncounted, Census Bureau data from 2023 shows that roughly one-third of the city’s 114,000 residents are foreign-born, including 22,000 non-citizens and 17,000 naturalized citizens, and the city has implemented several immigrant-supportive policies, including limiting its cooperation with ICE, ending driver’s license checkpoints in 2009, and blocking contracts with companies that share data with federal immigration authorities as of 2018.
The West Contra Costa Unified School District, which serves Richmond and other nearby communities, issued a statement after Trump’s election saying that the district would continue to prohibit ICE activities on their campuses and that district employees were not allowed to share personal information about students or their families, including immigration status, with ICE.
Rhea Laughlin, executive director of Rising Juntos, which works with families and children across Contra Costa County to advocate for racial justice and immigrant rights, told Richmondside after the November election that her organization is setting up a rapid response and legal representation network.
“We need our fellow community members to be vigilant and ready to protect one another,” Laughlin said. “Specifically, [to protect] vulnerable families from being separated.”
In nearby Berkeley, a sanctuary city, Berkeley police and other city employees have also pledged not to help ICE with investigations, detentions or arrests unless there is a valid, limited-in-scope court warrant signed by a district judge. The city also takes strides to limit the information it keeps about residents’ immigration status. The Berkeley school district, UC Berkeley and Berkeley City College have similar policies.
Here are some resources for undocumented residents who might be more concerned given Trump’s recent orders:
Report ICE activities and get legal assistance
If you see Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Richmond or Contra Costa County, you can call the 24-hour hotline 925-900-5151 to report it. The hotline is operated by a coalition called Stand Together Contra Costa, which includes the Public Defender’s Office, according to Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, who represents west Contra Costa County.
If someone is detained by ICE in Contra Costa County, you can also call the hotline for emergency legal representation, he added.
“Hard working immigrant families are an important part of our Contra Costa community and provide significant economic contributions,” Gioia said in an emailed statement to Richmondside. “I am proud to have helped lead the effort to establish Stand Together Contra Costa, which is our county funded rapid response immigration legal defense program.”
The East Bay Community Law Center is also among the local groups offering free or low-cost legal help.
Know your rights
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution.
The California Values Act “means the police cannot ask you about your immigration status or deport you solely on immigration charges,” according to East Bay Sanctuary Covenant. “If you are arrested, the police cannot transfer you to ICE custody unless you have a felony or high level misdemeanor conviction (DUI; sale, possession, or use of drugs; domestic violence; robbery; murder).”
Carry and show a red card to assert your rights. It’s a card created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. The card is printed with your rights under the U.S. Constitution, and a statement that you are exercising your right to remain silent.
You can print your own red cards here. They are available in 16 languages.
If an ICE agent stops you on the street
Keep calm.
Always ask the officer, “Am I free to go?” If the answer is “yes,” you can walk away.
If the answer is “no:”
- Do not walk away.
- Do not answer any questions.
- Ask for a lawyer.
- Do not talk about your immigration status.
- Do not talk about when and how you came to the United States.
If an officer begins to search you, say, “I do not consent to this search.”
If an ICE agent comes to your home
Do not open the door. Ask the officer to slip a valid search warrant under your door. If they don’t have a valid search warrant, they cannot enter your home. If the agents don’t speak your language, ask for an interpreter.
A valid search warrant will be:
- Signed by a judge or magistrate (not an immigration official).
- Show the address to be searched.
- State in detail where the agent will search.
Check out the warrant. Look at the top and at the signature line to see if it was issued by a court and signed by a judge. Only a court/judge warrant grants ICE permission to enter your residence. One issued by the Department of Homeland Security or ICE, and signed by a DHS or ICE employee, does not.
Do not resist if ICE agents force their way in. Say “I do not consent to your entry,” but do not physically resist.
If an ICE agent comes to your home with a warrant for removal/deportation
A search warrant is not the same as a warrant for removal/deportation.
You do not have to let ICE agents into your home if they only have a warrant for removal/deportation.
If you are arrested by an ICE agent
- You have a right to an attorney. Ask to speak to a lawyer immediately.
- You have a right to remain silent. Do not answer questions.
- Do not sign anything without a lawyer.
- Do not lie or show fake documents.
- Do not talk about your immigration status. Do not talk about when and how you came to the United States.
Remember your immigration number (“A” number) and give it to your family. It will help family members locate you.
To find someone who has been detained, access ICE’s online detainee locator, or call the ICE Northern California field office at (415) 365-8800.
Family emergency plan
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant recommends families:
- Have a lawyer’s contact information saved on your phone.
- Save money for legal and court fees.
- Have you and your children’s documents well organized.
- Give a trusted attorney power of attorney to make decisions for your family on your behalf.
- Find a trusted person and give them access to your finances.
- Find someone who will care for your children in case of deportation or detention and give them legal power to take care of your children.
A version of this story was first published on Mission Local, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site based in San Francisco’s Mission District. Richmondside and Berkeleyside staff and CalMatters contributed reporting to the story.
I like to give Kudos to the organizers and participants of the MLK cleanup on the Greenway at Ohio and 6th streets. So many great volunteers including so many students from Cal! Next year I’ll try to bring my granddaughter. I joined through Urban Tilth, which has been supporting this community for so many years.
Undocumented residents do not enjoy the same privileges and rights as documented and/or legal citizens. If one is in this country illegally, one has criminally trespassed into this country; why is this so difficult to understand for our “leadership”, are they hoping that these folks will become future voters…..not likely any longer?!