It is critical that all of us deepen our commitment to immigrant rights and protect our immigrant community members. Low-income immigrants rely on public benefits for their safety net. Join our campaigns to support immigrant families!
BREAKING NEWS (January 21, 2025): The Berkeley City Council unanimously voted to approve the Resolution Reaffirming Berkeley as a Sanctuary City, a direct response to President Trump’s slew of unconstitutional executive orders further criminalizing migration and expanding detention, reducing pathways to seek asylum, and eliminating birthright citizenship. As we move into this administration, EBSC will continue to do whatever we can to protect undocumented immigrants.
A second Trump presidency will be dangerous for immigrant communities. Based on his campaign promises, many experts believe the Trump administration will enter office prepared to greatly expand border enforcement and deportations without regard for the law, democracy, or human rights.
During his reelection campaign, Trump promised to deport record numbers of unauthorized immigrants, end birthright citizenship, reinstate his “remain in Mexico,” and Title 42 policies, both of which are inhumane and illegal under international asylum law. He has threatened to end both DACA and TPS, policies under which many EBSC clients have been living in the U.S. for over 20 years. Experts estimate that 700,000 TPS holders, 500,000 Dreamers, and 175,000 Ukrainians could lose their status, a fate that could also be shared by thousands of Afghans, Venezuelans, Cubans, and Haitians who all face dangerous conditions in their home countries.
Here are some ways you can deepen your commitment to Sanctuary:
- Learn about our efforts to protect asylum and donate to our legal fund.
- Print your own “Know Your Rights” cards in English and Spanish to share with your immigrant neighbors in case of ICE raids.
- If you or anyone you know has DACA, encourage them to renew their DACA as soon as possible and apply for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act..
- Fight anti-immigrant hate by sharing this brochure with Spanish-speaking immigrants in your community to know their rights as victims or witnesses of a hate crime.
- Sign up for our newsletter and follow @eastbaysanctuary on Instagram and Facebook for updates about the new administration’s policies and what you can do.
Restrictions that prevent immigrant families from receiving public assistance are cruel and inhumane. Join us in LIFTING THE BAR!
Right now, there is a bar that prevents immigrants from receiving TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) for five years, even though recently arrived immigrants need this help much sooner. This five-year bar has devastating effects on low-income immigrant communities.
Contact your representative about the LIFT THE BAR ACT! Visit www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and enter your zip code to contact your representative.
Let them know that you support the LIFT THE BAR ACT to allow immigrant families access to needed public benefits.
What is LIFT the BAR?
The LIFT the BAR Act, introduced by Rep. Pramilia Jayapal, is designed to restore access to programs like CHIP, SNAP, and Medicaid by removing the five-year bar and other restrictions so that the poor immigrant population can benefit from them.
