In the wake of increased immigration enforcement activity in the Southland, local officials are hosting informational sessions for residents to better prepare for a potential encounter with federal agents.
State Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez planned two “Immigration Family Preparedness Workshops” in partnership with the Salvadoran American Leadership & Education Fund (SALEF) and Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, which are “designed to help families plan, protect, and prepare in the face of immigration enforcement.”
The first session, a virtual workshop that provided know-your-rights information and how to prepare an emergency plan for your family, was held on Tuesday evening. The presentation included information about legal protections under the Constitution and state laws, how to identify federal agents and a judicial warrant, which documents to have ready in case of a detainment and how to find loved ones who may have been taken into federal custody.
An in-person session will take place this Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees will receive help putting together a family preparedness plan, including how to designate guardianship, create childcare plans and organize key documents. One-on-one legal consultations will also be available, as well as financial and emotional support resources. Information and services will be provided in both English and Spanish.
For more information or to RSVP for Saturday’s in-person session, call (818) 504-3911 or visit: https://bit.ly/FPP-inperson