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Dear Friends,
A few nights ago, I started getting messages about ICE coming to the Bay Area for immigration enforcement actions. I immediately started making calls and it was confirmed they would be doing enforcement in: San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.
I am working with local stakeholders and elected officials at all levels of government to ensure we have the most up to date information, looking at nimble ways to be of service during these terrifying times, and being part of a collective safety net. I am part of the Immigrant Support Ad Hoc with Chair Hopkins where we are updating our county response to ICE in our community. Additionally, I’m participating in meetings to be part of a regional approach to ICE in our community.
While information is limited, what I do want to share with our community is that I’ve been in constant contact with Chair Hopkins, Sheriff Engram, CEO Christina Rivera, and other departments responsible for delivering services to all of our constituents, especially those who are being targeted unjustly. I also want to ensure that the community has the information available to me.
What I know as the Vice Chair of the Board and from my work on the Immigrant Support Ad Hoc is this:
Our Sheriff Eddie Engram has not been notified by the Department of Homeland Security of enforcement actions targeting Sonoma County.
Our County CEO Christina Rivera is coordinating across County departments to ensure that we are prepared to provide support to our immigrant community. She is also speaking with other County CEOs — including a CEO with direct experience with large scale immigration enforcement actions — to bring lessons learned and best practices to Sonoma County.
Our Department of Emergency Management Director, Jeff DuVall, has been looking at different models for how to respond to a hypothetical mass immigration enforcement action, and is ready to organize partners to provide support. This is a scenario Director Duvall has been considering for the last year and while we do not have a formal plan adopted, I feel better knowing Jeff has been thinking about this; he and his team are always ready to spring into action if needed.
Support and safety for youth impacted by immigration enforcement actions, including unaccompanied minors, is top of mind for our Human Services Department, and HSD Director Angela Struckmann is coordinating closely with our Family, Youth & Children’s Services Division. In the event of an enforcement action that separates children from their parents, and the parents are unable to make a plan for their children’s care, Human Services will respond to ensure immediate child safety and provide case management for children with the goal of reuniting them with family members or providing care as necessary based on each child’s individual circumstances.
Knowing that the above is happening is not enough, we cannot rely on local government alone. The work we do has to be collective and there are so many nonprofits doing great work to address the immediate impacts of ICE enforcement in our community. One of those nonprofits is Northbay Rapid Response 24 HOUR HOTLINE: 707-800-4544. Please share and keep their phone number handy, and also remember they are a nonprofit; they can use help to then help our community.
Please see the links below for additional organizations and resources, and follow my social media for more up to date information.
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