Community advocates and elected officials are amplifying Know Your Rights information and rapid response networks as an increase in immigration enforcement once again hits California.
On Saturday, neighbors in North Long Beach rushed out of their homes and blocked federal immigration agents from detaining a man they violently knocked to the ground.
Unión del Barrio has shared video footage of immigration agents spotted in Inglewood, Koreatown and East LA in recent days and is urging residents “to be cautious during this wave of deportations” and to “not surrender to fear.”
Calls for help to immigrant rights and aid groups in Long Beach have tripled in the last few weeks, Rep. Robert Garcia said at a news conference Monday.
And with just weeks before the Nov. 3 election, community and labor organizations, including InnerCity Struggle, have hosted voter-protection trainings to ensure voters understand how to protect their votes and what they can do in the face of any interference.
While there are no known examples of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at California polling places, organizers at a recent training said even rumors can create fear and urged trainees to encourage voters to stay in line and to observe and document what’s happening.
The Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network last week said it is continuing its rapid response efforts and seeking volunteers to spread the word about what people can do when they spot ICE agents.
“Sharing this information and encouraging people to commit to these different opportunities is the best thing we can do to help protect our community,” said Ken Campa, director of programs at Proyecto Pastoral.
Here’s who to call if you spot ICE:
ÓRALE Long Beach
Hotline: (562) 245-9575
Instagram: @oralelb
Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network
Hotline: (323) 805-1049
Instagram: @boyleheightsirn
Los Angeles Raids and Rapid Response Network
Hotline: (888) 624-4752
Unión Del Barrio
Hotline: (213) 444-6561
Instagram: @uniondelbarrio
Immigrant Defenders Law Center
Hotline: (213) 833-8283
Instagram: @immdef_lawcenter
Have this information ready, advocates say:
Date and time of the sighting or activity
The street name or description of the area where officials were seen
Pictures or videos with time stamps of the current interaction
First-person witness testimony
Join Know Your Rights workshops
The Immigrant Defenders Law Center is offering free virtual Know Your Rights webinars.
Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. (English)
Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. (Bilingual; Detention-focused)
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cNo_v5Z6RVu7ahDCsfn2ig#/registration
My background: I was part of the team that launched De Los, a new section of the Los Angeles Times exploring Latino identity. I’ve been a local reporter for The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, and The Orange County Register. You can find my writing on religion, food, and culture in The Atlantic, Eater, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and Religion News Service. My upbringing spans South Central, El Monte, and Pomona.
What I do: A Report for America corps member, I write about how decisions surrounding immigration, city hall, schools, health, religion and culture impact Boyle Heights and East LA. I do this by spending time with residents and community members, reaching out to civic and elected leaders, and by analyzing related research. I’ve also mentored Boyle Heights Beat youth journalists.
Why LA: It’s where I’m from. Reporting and living here means appreciating the different neighborhood identities that make up LA. Also, nothing beats walking along the LA River, hiking at Debs Park, or catching a sunset while running on the Sixth Street Bridge in Boyle Heights.
My background: I was born in Mexico and raised in Boyle Heights, where I got my start in journalism by launching a community blog. Most recently, I worked at the Los Angeles Times and have spent most of my career covering local news in LA, with a focus on community-centered stories, Latino communities and mentoring emerging writers.
What I do: I lead coverage of Boyle Heights and East LA across all platforms to inform, connect and uplift our community. I spend my days listening, planning, editing and coordinating to make sure our stories reflect the community fairly, while supporting and mentoring my team of reporters and freelancers so they can grow along the way.
Why LA?: It’s home. It’s the sounds of Spanglish and other languages, the smell of tacos and kimchi, the way street art tells stories and how, even though I hate traffic, I love how the freeways can take me to the beach or the mountains on a whim.