The Weekly Dispatch
Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area.
Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Vanessa G. Sánchez, senior health equity reporter.
We are ending the week with immigration enforcement escalations nationwide and concerns about excessive use of force by immigration agents in Minneapolis, where civilians Renee Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti were shot and killed by federal agents within weeks of each other.
The Bay Area is also preparing to host the Superbowl on February 8, and local officials in the South Bay confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security plans to deploy ICE agents to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. In response to this and other immigration-related threats, Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on Tuesday a proposal to create ICE-Free zones.
The sense of urgency was palpable in a room that was packed with dozens of people – teachers, immigrant rights advocates, health providers – waiting to deliver public comment, mostly in support of the measure, during the board meeting that lasted almost four hours.
Andrew Herring, emergency physician at Highland Hospital, a county-run facility, told the board that the presence of ICE deters immigrant patients from receiving critical medical care.
“I’ve seen infections that could have been easily treated progress to wounds and needed surgery,” said Herring. “Any action of federal agents on hospital grounds is an act of terror.”
As part of the measure, immigration agents will no longer be able to use county-owned and county-controlled parking lots, vacant lots, buildings and healthcare facilities for immigration enforcement.
“The supercharged immigration enforcement is causing fear, trauma, separating families and harming communities,” said supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, who spearheaded the proposal.
The resolution took effect immediately. The next step is for county employees to identify and secure, with appropriate signage, properties that ICE or CBP can target for larger enforcement operations, processing centers, or an operation base.
“In the 36 years I’ve lived in this country, I’ve never experienced this level of brutality,” Leticia, a member of Mujeres Unidas Activas, said in Spanish. “It is critical for people with a conscience to raise their voices.”
The plan mirrors efforts in Bay Area cities and counties, including San Jose, Santa Clara, and the city of Pinole in Contra Costa, which have also enacted ICE-free zones. Oakland’s Mayor Barbara Lee signed two executive orders Thursday directing city departments to follow similar actions. In a statement, Lee also said the Oakland Police Department will not assist ICE and will not follow instructions by federal authorities or the U.S. National Guard, if troops are deployed to Oakland.
“There’s strength in numbers,” Fortunato Bas said.
Some residents are still wondering how the proposal will work in practice.
Will county officials physically stop immigration agents from entering a county facility? Could someone avoid arrest by standing in a county-owned parking lot?
The short answer is no.
Immigration agents can still conduct arrests with a warrant signed by a judge. If agents violate the policy and enter restricted property, county officials can issue cease-and-desist orders or pursue litigation, said Fortunato Bas. Not having any policy leaves the county with fewer options to fight, she said.
The board also approved the development of a comprehensive rapid response plan with community organizations, health providers and county officials. It will include training, reporting, and communication protocols, along with practice exercises so the county is not caught flat-footed, according to county officials.
What is happening in Alameda county is a small iteration of a wave of measures across California responding to the second year of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
This month alone, lawmakers announced legislation that goes beyond street-level tactics. One committee advanced a measure that will make it easier for people to sue federal agents over civil rights violations. A bill would prohibit police officers from taking side jobs as federal immigration agents, and a separate proposal strengthens protections in courthouses.
One official is also targeting immigration detention private contractors by proposing a 50% tax on profits from immigration detention centers.
We’ll continue following this legislation and its local impact in the coming months. That’s all for now. Thanks for reading. See you next week. As always, please contact me with tips and feedback at vsanchez@eltimpano.org.
— Vanessa G. Sánchez
Ear to the Ground
El Tímpano’s text messaging (SMS) service reaches more than 6,500 Spanish-speaking immigrants across the Bay Area. As concerns about immigration enforcement and ICE activity grow, community members have had questions about those enforcements in the Bay Area. This week, we are sharing a glimpse into the conversations between our subscribers and our team as they write in with their questions:
Hello, good morning. What news do you have about ICE?
-Brentwood resident
Hello, good afternoon. What type of news about ICE are you looking for? That way, we can check for you.
-El Tímpano
If it’s true that they are in San Francisco, did they return to conduct raids throughout the entire Bay Area or just in Los Angeles?
-Brentwood resident
Hello, so far there is no verified information about mass ICE raids in San Francisco or the Bay Area. Targeted operations or individual cases may occur. Where did you see this information? That would help us verify it.
-El Tímpano
Resource of the week
Our Spanish-language resource guide on immigration includes Know Your Rights information if ICE confronts you, county rapid response hotlines to report ICE activity, and practical tools to help families prepare–from family preparation plans to tips to stay safe from immigration legal scams.
Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Share it with them and let them know they can text us any questions at (510) 800-8305.
From the El Tímpano Newsroom
In case you missed it, last week we went inside El Tímpano and shared insights from Community Reporter, Vanessa Flores, who interacts with thousands of SMS subscribers throughout the year. She shares the concerns, questions, and stories raised by the Bay Area’s Latino and Mayan immigrants during the first year of Trump’s second term.
Listening to immigrants through the first year of Trump 2.0
Amidst a year of challenges, these are the questions and concerns that surfaced consistently.
California
National
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