Under the second Trump administration, immigration and deportation policies in the U.S. continue to spark intense debate and have raised fear in undocumented communities throughout the Bay Area.
President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and other federal agencies to crack down on undocumented residents and step up deportations. Many immigrants across the country have been separated from families or friends or are living in fear of what is happening, and Contra Costa County’s undocumented population is no different.
“Lizzie,” who chooses not to be identified since her family is undocumented, is a student in Antioch who is dealing with the fear of deportation looming over herself and her loved ones.
Lizzie said an ICE roundup in Bakersfield in January under the Biden administration left her nervous and uncertain. Even though Antioch hadn’t seen an ICE sighting as of early March, knowing that there were sightings a couple of hours away still scares her.
“My mom was genuinely terrified,” said Lizzie, adding that her mother feared deportation. “It would crumble my family apart and my sister would have to take care of it. She would have to drop her nursing degree and everything just to take care of two kids. So it’s pretty scary.”
Lizzie said her parents both applied for citizenship over 13 years ago and the process has been long and stressful.
County reassures community
Local law enforcement in Contra Costa County has made a commitment to residents that it will not take part in any federal actions against undocumented residents. Police departments in Brentwood, Pittsburg, and Antioch have assured residents that they would not take part in immigration enforcement. The county released a statement in January stating that it was committed to all members of the community, regardless of their immigration status, and encouraged undocumented people to continue to use services offered to them through local government.
“We recognize that fear and uncertainty can prevent people from seeking County programs and services, but we want to assure you that our services are here for you,” read the press release posted on the county’s website. “You have the right to feel safe and secure in your community, and our longstanding policies are designed to uphold your safety and trust.”
Gabriel Medina, executive director for La Raza Community Resource Center in San Francisco, agrees that people are living in a daily climate of fear now under Trump’s edicts.
“This administration has scared immigrants so much that they won’t even receive services that they are entitled to that don’t interfere with public charge,” he said.
Medina’s nonprofit organization offers legal services to help out immigrants and their families. They are among several coalitions, including the San Francisco Immigration Legal Defense Collaborative and the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative that focus on connecting newly arrived immigrant families and integrating them into their new communities.
As many undocumented adults avoid reaching out for services to stay “under the radar,” high school students like Lizzie also know that they may not be safe from ICE in their school. Even though some schools throughout the state are being trained with rapid response measures to ICE sightings, the Trump administration has declared so-called “sensitive sites” such as schools, hospitals, and churches that were previously off limits to federal agents, as fair game now for immigration raids.
In January, Mt. Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Adam Clark released a statement assuring students and families that the district would protect the rights of all of its students, no matter their immigration status.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority,” reads the statement. “Every child deserves to learn in an environment free from harm, harassment, and fear, where they can focus on their academic, social, and emotional growth. Our District is deeply committed to ensuring that all students are protected, respected, and supported – regardless of their background, race, religion, immigration status, gender, or socioeconomic status.”
Nonprofits are also helping schools advocate for immigrants. Through organizations like the La Raza Community Resource Center, schools such as César Chávez Elementary School in San Francisco have been able to hold “Know Your Rights” workshops for their students to inform them and their families.
“Schools are doing what they can to assure parents that they’re doing the best of their ability to keep students safe because regardless of documentation, students and families still have rights,” Medina said.
Even with these safeguards, the threat of deportation has caused many families and students to fear going to school and as a result, more are absent, Medina said. There is a strong need for mental health support as families and students fear for their safety, and it’s anxiety that has impacted their lives.
“We talk about the importance of unity and not being intimidated to stand up for your rights,” Medina said. “It helps people give a little bit of their power back and makes people feel like they aren’t alone and makes the weight feel a little bit lighter.”
In Contra Costa County, there are a few like-minded organizations that exist to help immigrants.
Different programs support immigrant rights
The Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance (CCIRA) provides and pushes for the creation of different programs in support of policies to advance the rights of immigrants. They also offer workshops and training sessions to educate the community about the immigrants that live there.
In 2018, the Contra Costa County Public Defenders Office spearheaded the Stand Together Contra Costa initiative, a program that provides rapid-response hotlines alongside legal services and educational immigration rights seminars. They also help provide accurate information on ICE sightings. They even have a 24-hour hotline for reporting ICE activity and getting legal support.
Other agencies serving Contra Costa County are the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, which says it is the largest provider of immigration legal services in Northern California. It currently has offices in San Francisco, Redwood City, Oakland, Brentwood, Fremont, Napa, and Petaluma. They provide legal services such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals, citizenship issues, family reunification, and deportation defense alongside free English classes.
Catholic Charities East Bay is an organization with offices in Oakland, Richmond, and Concord. They provide immigration legal assistance like DACA renewals, TPS (Temporary Protected Status), and webinars to help people manage stress and anxiety, according to their website.
Susana Barajas is a Mexican citizen with family in the Bay Area. From the outside looking in, she is concerned that the U.S. isn’t seeing its immigrants – both documented and undocumented – as people just like her.
“I understand Trump’s decision to protect his country,” said Barajas, “but I want him to remember that we are humans, we have feelings, and we should be treated as such. There are more good people than bad. Simply, we are people who want to get ahead and work.”
Emma Mayta Canales is an 11th grader at Deer Valley High School in Antioch. This story was made by possible by support from the Lesher Foundation, its Newsmakers speaker series, and the Bay City News Foundation. Stories are produced independently by the CCYJ news team.
