New Immigration Policies: How should we adapt?

1. New Immigration Policies:How should we adapt? Bruno Pillet

2. The Problem • Shift in the current administration has created anxiety and confusion in many immigrants communities. • Individuals and families become more hesitant in seeking resources • They voluntarily withdraw from resources they are currently accessing • Some of our employees or volunteers feel the same anxiety and may be part of this same community

3. Several Facets to the Response • Maintaining trust in our services • Easing anxiety in our employees and volunteers • Anticipating future situations • Supporting/advising immigrant individuals and families

4. Maintaining Trust Food Distribution • Key Messaging: • No change to eligibility for food assistance and distributions • No change to Federal and State laws protecting privacy • We don’t collect information about participants immigration status • What you can do: • Inform employees and volunteers • “All Welcome Here” Flyers • Renewed focus on clients’ experience

5. Maintaining Trust School/Youth Meals • Key Messaging: • Household information collected is strictly confidential and cannot be shared • Immigration status is not requested (schools nor summer meals) • Free or reduced price school meals are not considered public charge. • What you can do: • Inform employees and volunteers • Direct households to an approved immigration service if they would like further clarification

6. Maintaining Trust CalFreshand WIC • Key Messaging: • No change to laws and policies surrounding CalFresh or WIC • Neither are considered public charge • Immigration status is not requested to receive WIC • No change to Federal and State laws protecting privacy • What you can do: • Inform employees and volunteers • Direct households to an approved immigration service if they would like further clarification

7. Easing Anxiety of Employees & Volunteers • Key Messaging: • Know your rights about “unreasonable searches and seizures” • Homeland Security has “policies concerning enforcement actions at or focused on sensitive locations” like schools, hospitals, places of worship. • What you can do: • Develop “what if” procedures • Inform employees and volunteers • Direct them to an approved immigration service if they would like further clarification

8. Anticipate • What’s next? • Tell facts on the ground from rumors • Actions on “sanctuary” cities • What we can do: • Collect actual data and facts • Stay connected with immigrant community • Stay flexible and prepare for demand changes (increase or decrease)

9. Support Immigrants • How far should we go? • Available expertise on immigration issues • Advocacy vs mission • What we can do: • Collect and provide pointers to reliable resource • Inform our employees and volunteers • Organizing immigrants information sessions • Engage in legislative policy around immigration

10. Q&A and Sharing

11. Useful Resources • Know Your Rights Packet (Catholic Charities): • https://www.sccgov.org/sites/oir/Documents/Raids%20Response.pdfKnow Your Rights Cards (National Immigration Law Center) • https://www.nilc.org/issues/immigration-enforcement/everyone-has-certain-basic-rights/ • Legal Aid Societies: • Santa Clara County http://www.legalaidsociety.org/immigration.html • San Mateo County http://www.legalaidsmc.org/linking-immigrants-to-benefits-resources--education-libre.html