Below is a general summary from the Solidarity Committee meeting last week:
They talked about the recent video from Luis, that I shared in the group chat. They said it highlighted the need for community accompaniment.
It also reaffirmed the fear and anxiety about the clips and what it could represent (increased ICE activity here). They worried that their community is complacent in some ways and unprepared for any escalation. And they stressed the importance of proactive organizing.
The current plan is to create a public statement with the goals of:
Alerting the community to a potential of increased ICE activity
Recruiting volunteers into organized activity
Bringing the various grassroots groups together under a united front
Showing the community that they are not alone and that there are people who are taking this issue seriously locally
This statement would be shared with the various groups, including the Solidarity Committee, WCU, Papeles Para Todos!, Luis Magañaâs group, and a few others. And after incorporating any feedback, everyone would release the statement together.
Hereâs a draft I wrote (way too long) as a first draft, in case anyone else has a chance to look at it. Hopefully the others can edit it down by tomorrow and we can vote on a final version on Thursday. Papeles Para Todos will be voting on a final version tomorrow.
I was able to attend Nor Cal Resistâs training on 10/12. I was also able to record the training in two parts (a little bit of a technical mishap on my part around the first 11 minutes that cuts off some seconds), but I will admit that the quality of the recordings arenât great. The soundâs choppy and I was recording the training over my phone so thatâs why the camera is shaky. Recordings are available for members here in the KYR and Rapid Response Folder. Down below are my notes retaining to pertinent information said by the hosts:
What is Accompaniment?
Community accompaniment ensures that local asylum seekers and our undocumented neighbors have support and solidarity. This means:
Providing rides and your presence at appointments, like immigration court, legal, medical, and other service appointments. Accompaniment services can also include dental check-ups, doctor appointments, grocery shopping, emergency services like taking someone to the hospital because they donât have reliable transportation, help navigating the job-seeking process, fundraising and donations to families impacted by ICE such as temporary assistance in paying their rents, language tutoring (ESL classes), assistance with legal paperwork, etc.
Given WCUâs capacity, Iâm assuming that we are really only focused on stuff directly related to ICE such as accompaniment to court appointments, ICE field office check-ins, etc. Nor Cal Resistâs definition to accompaniment is much broader given being a larger organization. This first part of the recording is mainly Nor Cal Resist providing a broad definition of what accompaniment can look like for volunteers.
Nor Cal Resist provided a distinction between Accompanier (accompaniment volunteer) and Accompanied/Compa (person going in for hearing/check-in).
As an accompanier, donât offer legal advice to the accompanied, even if they ask for it, or you happen to have legal training/are a lawyer. Be considerate and donât press the accompanied for info theyâre not comfortable giving. Be flexible as things are liable to change in terms of time or of the situation such as the accompanied possibly being detained. Donât share personal details of appointment and of accompanied online.
Coordinate/check-in with accompanied at least a few days in advance to prepare over logistics in appointment at courthouse/ICE field office, parking, etc.
Simply texting accompanied through regular text messaging is not the most reliable form of communication; some accompanied donât have a phone plan and may rely on free Wi-Fi or WhatsApp to communicate.
Make sure that once the accompaniment is over, that you see the accompanied drive away in their car, drive them home yourself, and/or see them get back home safely before leaving them. Keep eyes on the accompanied until appointment is done and you know that they are safe.
What to Bring During Accompaniment
Picture ID (hosts said that this is not really required, but if driving, you will probably have your driverâs license on hand)
Cell phone + charger with Google Translate downloaded and âEnglish to Spanishâ, or âEnglish to non-English languageâ selected.
Mask and perhaps a couple extras in case accompanied doesnât have one. Wearing a mask is a good option if you donât want ICE to have a clear look at your face.
Silence phone while in court.
No need to dress up, just appear neat and tidy.
Donât talk to anyone you donât know about your accompaniedâs case, not even while in court. Presume that an ICE agent or DHS attorney undercover is trying to coax info out of you.
Meeting Up With Your Accompanied
Accompaniment team will reach out to you and let you know where and when you will meet with accompanied. Try to be early.
Nor Cal Resistâs process is that the accompanier will usually pick up the accompanied, stay with them through the entire appointment/court appearance/check-in, and then drive them home.
Let the accompaniment team know when you have to leave. Appointments can vary in length and you may be asked to stay later than originally planned.
Accompaniment at an ICE Check-In
Appointment in Sacramento may be at 650 Capitol Mall (ICE field office) or at the Geo Group (BI, Inc.) office on H St.
Make sure you have your accompaniedâs full name, A# (alien registration number), and the name and phone of their emergency contact. In case accompanied is detained at court or ICE field office, the rapid response network needs to be notified immediately, which is why having this info before the appointment is critical. ICE turn around in detaining and moving somebody can be as quick as a day.
ICE will not let you go with accompanied past the waiting area. According to Nor Cal Resist, at least in Sacramento, ICE might not even let accompaniers in the building at all. If this is the case, make sure that the accompanied actually leaves the building. If not, notify the rapid response network.
Accompanied should leave belongings with you in case theyâre detained. They should only take their ID and ICE check-in sheet during appointment.
You can ask accompanied beforehand if they want you to go into the meeting with the ICE officer. If they do, you can ask ICE to let you attend, but theyâll probably say no, if they even let you into the building at all.
Best case scenario, the ICE officer will check the accompaniedâs ID and sign their check-in sheet and give them a future reporting date. Their next date could be next month, 6 months from now, or a year.
Let accompaniment team know if you encounter issues with an ICE officer. Nor Cal Resist is aware of certain officers in Sacramento known to be problematic and giving volunteers a hard time by harassing and verbally abusing them and accompanied.
Accompaniment at a Court Hearing/Filing Paperwork
Local immigration court in Sacramento is on the 4th floor at 650 Capitol Mall. Make sure you have full name, A# (alien registration number), and name/phone of accompaniedâs emergency contact before attending appointment.
Limit personal items you bring and wear sneakers to get through security faster. Expect to wait in line (can be 30 minutes or more) and build that time into your plans/schedule.
The clerk window for filing asylum paperwork (I-589 form) is on the 4th floor of Sac courthouse). For a master calendar or individual hearing, your accompanied will be called in court by the last 3 digits of their 9-digit A#.
Filing paperwork is usually quick.
Individual hearings are the longest form of mandated legal appointment and can take several hours (4 - 6 hours).
A master calendar hearing is a check-in for the accompanied and that usually entails a hearing in front of a judge going over their paperwork to see if the accompanied has filed a I-589 form and/or found an attorney. Master calendar hearings are also usually quick. If your accompanied is nervous, you can go with them in front of the judge and speak as a non-attorney (Ex: âMs. Martinez is still actively looking for an attorney. She will have her I-589 filed this month.â). This is not required, and if you arenât comfortable, itâs okay not to do it.
Court Watch
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is moving to have peopleâs proceedings dismissed so that they can place folks into a fast-track process called Expedited Removal. They will make the motion, and then if a judge grants it, arrest people right outside the courtroom. ICE is also arresting people going to their ICE check-in appointments, and has arrested people during their citizenship interviews.
Court watch is an extra layer of protection by always having court observers on site daily at immigration court during public hours. It is important to be able to connect a detained person with legal resources and to document any abuses of power as soon as it happens.
Coverage for ICE Check-Ins
Collecting peopleâs info with consent on check-in sheets and providing KYR flyers as people are going in for appointments and drop-ins.
Verifying that individuals have safely left their appointments. This may involve contacting them by their provided phone number or emergency contact.
Initiating rapid response network in the case of an arrest/detainment.
Coverage for Master Calendar & Individual Hearings
Collecting individualsâ information with consent before their hearing in case of an arrest.
Escorting individuals out of their hearings.
Documenting ICE enforcement and detention attempts.
Initiating rapid response network in the case of an arrest/detainment.
Observing ICE in the Courtroom
The most important info you will collect is the full name, A# and an emergency contact for the accompanied. It is crucial to get it, with consent, from people prior to them going into their hearings. Use Siri or Google Translate to help communicate (Ex: âIâm a volunteer with [organization], can I get your name, A# and emergency contact so we can get legal help involved?â).
Arrests can happen in seconds, and ICE agents will typically station themselves in the hallway outside the courtroom and grab the targeted person as they step into the hallway.
Immigration court is a federal facility with strict security. Know that you are under video and audio surveillance. Failure to follow directives can get you ejected from the building or even arrested yourself.
Helpful Hints
Listen. Allow accompanied to âset the agenda.â
Be aware of non-verbal communication (body language, tone, personal space).
Do not make promises or commitments you are unsure that you will be able to keep.
Follow through on agreements (showing up on time to meet with accompanied, staying with accompanied until appointment is completely over, etc.).
Understand that people cope differently during difficult circumstances.
Be aware that you and the accompanied are not operating on equal footing â you are operating from a position of relative privilege.
Other Notes
Early on, one of the hosts referred to a private company called BI, Inc., which is the largest manufacturer of electronic monitoring devices for people on parole, probation, or pretrial release. BI, Inc. is owned by The GEO Group, the second-largest for-profit prison corporation in the world. They have been contracted by ICE to surveil undocumented people with ankle monitors, wrist monitors, and/or through their phones and computers.
At the start of the training, Nor Cal Resist asks for volunteers to sign a confidentiality agreement form. Once you sign it and send it to norcalresist@gmail.com, you will be added to an email list. This list will provide you with accompaniment opportunities that you can choose which ones you can attend based on your capacity. You will also receive an accompaniment guide after signing confidentiality form. Copy of confidentiality agreement can be found here for those interested.
Here is an updated version that further condensed down working with two members of the Solidarity Committee:
They would like to go over it at the event on Saturday with others that attend and ask for further edits/additions. And at that point, everyone can take it back to their various orgs for an endorsement.
But if you have comments/edits about it now, please leave them below so we can discuss it ahead of time. I donât think it is counter to anything WCU has said in the past, but I would like everyoneâs opinon.
Purpose: This is a public statement meant to show a united front of organizations, acticists, and community groups in San Joaquin County who are committed to protecting the immigrant community and unite the working class. The letter lays out principles of class solidarity and independence from the two major political parties.
Discussion and Amendments: After a full reading of the letter, two changes were proposed and accepted by everyone at the meeting:
Regarding Non-Profits: The original text mentioned the words including their well funded nonprofits. It was pointed out that this language might alienate smaller grassroots NGOs that do good work, even if we are critical of the counter-revolutionary role of non-profits.
Decision: So the following sentence was modifying by removing the words including their well funded nonprofits. This was done to be more inclusive of smaller NGOs; there is enough language in the rest of the document establishing independence and working class leadership.
A united front brings together working-class organizations around shared goals. It is independent of the two major parties and institutions of the capitalist class , including their well funded nonprofits.
Regarding Citizenship: The demand for real pathways to permanent status, and citizenship for all was seen as too vague and similar to weak Democratic Party proposals.
Decision: The decision was made to change the language to be more specific about citizenship for all people that are already here, and then, real pathways to citizenship for all fugure immigrants.
Thank you @ckposadas for working with me on drafting the new language:
Real pathways to permanent status and citizenship for allCitizenship for all who are already here and real pathways to citizenship for future immigrants
Canvassing Plans
Goal: We wanted to start canvassing work, modeled after the âFight the Fearâ campaign in San Jose.
Logistics & Scheduling:
We talked about we face a significant language barrier, so participation from our spanish speaking members and others is crucial.
We will begin canvassing on the next two upcoming Saturdays (sign up sheet here).
Location: We will start in the largely Spanish-speaking apartment complexes that we have gone to before for tenant union outreach.
Future Plans: Once we establish a process that works, we hope to start integrating this work without tenant union organzing and labor organizing.
The English version of the letter is available here, located halfway down the page.
During the last General Meeting, we agreed to wait until after the Community Forum to officially endorse the form.
At the Community Forum, we also discussed publishing the letter online and inviting individuals or organizations to sign onto it, with the option to display their name publicly. This would help expand the public presence of the united front and build a list of people interested in this work.
Please read the letter linked above and then respond below if you approve of the following:
WCU posting the letter as an official organizational statement
Including a sign-up form for individuals or organizations (not affiliated with the two major parties) to add their name to a list that will appear under the letter
Votes needed: Weâre late with the minutes, but the prior calculated quorum was 6 so letâs stick with that. Between meeting votes require quorum+1 votes. That means we need: 7 votes total; max 3 coming from Steering Committee.
Thanks @Adri_Martinez (for doing all the translating!) and @Englishpete08 for hopping on to talk with the Solidarity Committee.
We talked about some of their concerns related to canvassing with the recent events in the Oakland/Alameda. They recognized the situation has changed for people with regards to if they feel comfortable with participating in public events.
We wrote up our plan in the Security section. This includes meeting prior to the canvassing event to go over how to keep everyone safe during/after canvassing, reviewing the script prior to canvassing, and also how we can transition our work over time so canvassing is not the only work we are doing. So far, this looked good to everyone, but we can continue to evolve this if someone else has feedback.
We also thought it would be a good idea to debrief after the canvassing and going out to eat somewhere, for the folks that have time. You can find the latest version of canvassing notes here.
@ckposadas and I met yesterday to work on these. The check-in coverage sheet should be filled out by whoever is checking in. The way it is laid out, if the person wants updates or wants us to be there at their next check in, we can keep the top half of the page (their name, contact, language, and type of updates). Once they check out, we can return the bottom half that has more personal details we should not hang on to. It also has a QR code to our /kyr page.
@ckposadas had a good idea that we should split up the check-in/out log to its own page so it is easier to keep track of. Since we donât get everyoneâs info (some people are running late and donât want to fill stuff out), a separate log would work better. Thereâs the slight incresae in work having to duplicate someoneâs name, but it is probably worth the trade off.
