The ACLU and other immigrant rights’ organizations sued the Trump administration over its attempt to end birthright citizenship.
The Trump administration has ended the Protected Areas policy, a policy in effect since 2011 instructing ICE not to conduct immigration enforcement operations in certain sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and churches.
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
Despite the recent rescission of the protected areas policy, there are a number of things schools can still do to protect immigrant students’ and families’ rights and access to education.
The Department of Justice has instructed legal service providers who receive federal funding to cease providing legal orientation and access programs that help individuals, families and children at risk of deportation.
In a recent Berkeley Talks podcast, sociology professor Stephanie Canizales discusses her 2024 book, Sin Padres, Ni Papeles, which delves into the experiences of undocumented immigrant youth coming of age in the US without their parents. The podcast also features a panel of Berkeley professors who share their thoughts about the book, including Kristina Lovato, assistant professor of social welfare and CICW director.
Many cities, states, police departments, school districts and other local governments are indicating that they will not aid in federal immigration enforcement efforts.
A group of Quaker congregations is suing DHS over the end of the protected areas policy arguing that the rescission of the policy threatens religious liberty.
President Trump has signed the Laken Riley Act into law, which will make it easier to detain and deport immigrants without legal status who are charged with certain crimes.
January 13, 2025 – The Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative stands in solidarity with those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, CA, sharing in the collective grief of the individuals and families whose lives have been profoundly impacted. It has been deeply painful to witness the immense trauma Angelenos are enduring as they face evacuations, the loss of homes and livelihoods, and the uncertainty that follows such destruction.
We wish to especially recognize the unique challenges faced by immigrant communities during this crisis. Mixed-status families, children of immigrants, undocumented workers, day laborers, and their communities are navigating compounding vulnerabilities, including housing insecurity, precarious employment, and the fear of seeking emergency services. Many mixed-status families in California may be hesitant to seek assistance due to fears about immigration enforcement. These struggles mirror the challenges and resilience these communities displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where immigrants often stood as first responders and frontline workers. Once again, they are demonstrating incredible strength by helping to clean up neighborhoods, rebuild homes, and care for others.
Amid this turmoil, an immigration raid occurred on Wednesday, January 8th in Bakersfield, CA, compounding the distress already felt by these communities. Customs and Border Protection agents conducted a large-scale raid in unmarked SUVs, detaining individuals outside locations such as a Home Depot and a gas station frequented by field workers. This raid—reportedly the first of its scale in California since the election of Donald Trump—took place just one day after Congress certified the presidential election on January 6. The fear and confusion caused by these actions, for both immigrant families and the local businesses that rely on their labor, serve as a stark warning of the potential consequences of policies prioritizing mass deportations.
There are meaningful ways we can support those affected. Below are links to several organizations offering direct assistance to immigrants and their families in Southern California:
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