5 ways you can help immigrant communities being targeted by Trump policies

One of Donald Trump’s first acts as president was to sign an executive order attacking birthright citizenship. While several judges have moved to block the order, Trump’s anti-immigrant push is continuing—from allowing immigration officials to conduct arrests at schools and places of worship to training local law officers to interrogate and detain immigrants in their custody.

However, Deirdre Schifeling, chief policy and advocacy officer at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), points out that local government resistance as well as individuals fighting back against anti-immigrant policies are showing results.

“We’re seeing this in Chicago, where Trump is suing the government for not helping enough,” she says.

Here are five ways to fight anti-immigration policies:

1. Contact government officials, particularly local ones

Politicians are moved by public opinion. Apply pressure by continually calling and emailing your representatives.

“The most effective way to change immigration policy is to contact members of Congress and express your opposition to anti-immigrant policies,” Oleg Nekritin, an attorney at the Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot, said via email.

And don’t neglect local officials. Schifeling points out that cities and states cannot be forced to assist with mass deportation by the federal government. While they can’t obstruct the federal government, they can choose not to help.

Schifeling recommends asking local leaders to pass sanctuary city or state laws, which means they won’t use their resources to help the federal immigration authorities, as well as laws that prevent city data from being used to deport immigrants. She also recommends asking school boards to issue guidance to schools asking them not to track student immigration status and not to share it if they do have the status.

2. Educate yourself

Learn what’s going on in your community vis a vis the law.

Schifeling recommends attending a “Know Your Rights” workshop so people can understand what their and their neighbors’ rights are if they’re faced with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

In addition, the more people who understand the law, the more people there are who can educate others in their community, as well as bear witness when ICE raids happen and try to help prevent unlawful actions. For example, if ICE doesn’t have a warrant, you don’t have to let them in.

“We’re hearing from the Trump administration that communities are very educated and this as a top obstacle for carrying out their mass deportations,” Schifeling says. “It’s confirmation that know-your-rights outreach is working.”

3. Donate

While organizations such as the ACLU are looking to expand and appreciate donations, donating to local legal service organizations and immigrant advocacy groups can also be powerful. These smaller groups are on the frontlines in the fight to protect immigrants but often lack the resources of their larger counterparts.

Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, notes that smaller organizations often struggle to get funding since they may not have brand-name recognition or even the ability to hire marketing teams.

Yet often, it’s local organizations that best understand the needs of the immigrant community, says Sweet, “and can be the most responsive.”

In addition, consider donating to immigrant bond funds. “Helping people bond out of immigration detention is going to be really important to give them a chance to find an attorney to represent them in their deportation cases,” said Tara Tidwell Cullen, director of communications at the National Immigrant Justice Center, in an email.

4. Volunteer

Volunteering can take many different forms. Schifeling at the ACLU recommends getting trained in Know Your Rights, so if a raid happens in the community, volunteers can show up and distribute Know Your Rights cards printed in multiple languages.

Organizations may also need volunteers to help people fill out citizenship paperwork or register to vote.

Small organizations often also need professional skills since they don’t have the budget to retain large staffs. Legal service organizations depend on volunteer attorneys, while in general, nonprofits need expertise with fundraising, finance, marketing, and website management. Check with your local organizations to see which of your skills might be a good fit.

5. Verify information before you share it

Last, but not least, in your desire to help, make sure you’re not inadvertently spreading misinformation. Immigrant communities are already living in fear. If you have information, make sure it’s coming from a credible source before sharing it.

“We’re hearing so many rumors flying around, sometimes from folks who want to be helpful,” Sweet says. “But when someone says, ‘ICE is here and they are going to take action in this community,’ it’s really scaring people who are already scared.”