{"id":42625,"date":"2025-07-15T12:19:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=42625"},"modified":"2025-07-15T12:19:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:19:46","slug":"how-california-volunteers-are-supporting-immigrants-and-responding-to-ice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2025\/07\/15\/how-california-volunteers-are-supporting-immigrants-and-responding-to-ice\/","title":{"rendered":"How California Volunteers Are Supporting Immigrants and Responding to ICE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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13 JULY 2025 (SFist.com)<\/span>

\/<\/span>SF NEWS<\/a>\/<\/span>LEANNE MAXWELL<\/a><\/section>

How California Volunteers Are Supporting Immigrants and Responding to ICE<\/h1><\/header><\/figure>
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Across California, advocates are supporting immigrants at risk of detention by attending court, monitoring ICE activity, helping with legal paperwork, and assisting families with online hearing requests.<\/p>

As KQED reports,<\/a>\u00a0court accompaniment is one of the most immediate and effective tools for supporting immigrants. Volunteers attend hearings, offer administrative support, and stay alert of ICE activity. If someone is detained, the volunteer will contact a legal team or a rapid response network \u2014 often quickly enough to intervene. In one recent case, a volunteer observed ICE agents detaining someone outside a Sacramento courtroom and was able to identify the individual and contact support. A pro bono lawyer arrived, and the man was released later that day.<\/p>

Organizations like\u00a0NorCal Resist<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0La Raza Centro Legal<\/a>\u00a0train volunteers on how to safely and effectively participate in accompaniment work. No legal experience is needed, just a willingness to learn, listen, and be present. In some cases, accompaniment can also help court staff and judges feel more accountable when proceedings are under observation.<\/p>

Lawyers are also working to reduce the need for in-person court appearances by filing motions to\u00a0move hearings online<\/a>\u00a0using the WebEx platform. Any applicant can request this by submitting a “Motion to Change Hearing Format” to their court. While not guaranteed, these requests are more likely to be granted if they include a reason \u2014 such as difficulty with transportation or caregiving responsibilities.\u00a0Here’s a PDF guide<\/a>. Local nonprofits often assist with the process, and bilingual volunteers are especially helpful.<\/p>

Counties throughout the Bay Area have rapid-response, 24-hour hotlines, with volunteers verifying reports of ICE activity, dispatching legal help, and working with families if someone is detained.\u00a0San Francisco\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0hotline is 415-200-1548 and\u00a0Alameda<\/a>\u00a0510-241-4011.\u00a0The full list is here.<\/a><\/p>