Central Valley organization steps up to aid immigrant families amid mass deportation fears
As fear intensifies among immigrant families in the Central Valley following President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of mass deportations, local organizations are stepping up to support those most vulnerable.
The nonprofit organization Faith in the Valley is relaunching its Valley Watch Network Rapid Response Team to mobilize volunteers to provide essential support.
The team first started in September of 2018. Volunteer teams included “dispatchers” trained to field calls from undocumented immigrants and their allies reporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.
Another group of volunteers would visit neighborhoods to verify the reports, often working to debunk social media rumors. Additionally, some volunteers are trained to provide direct support to families after a loved one has been detained.
The Valley Watch Network is currently recruiting volunteers to serve in these key roles:
Hot-line dispatchers: Coordinate responses to ICE activities and hate crimes.
Accompaniment team members: Provide support for individuals attending ICE check-ins or court appearances and help organize mutual aid.
Legal observers: Document and verify ICE activity or hate crimes “in real time.”
“Our communities need you. Together, we can create a stronger, safer, and more connected Central Valley,” wrote Latricia Beasley-Day, community organizer for Faith in the Valley-Stanislaus, in an email.
To prepare volunteers, Faith in the Valley is hosting training sessions this week:
Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.
Jan. 16 5 p.m.
These sessions will provide an overview of the Valley Watch Network and specific training for each volunteer role. They will be conducted online through Zoom.
Those interested in joining the Rapid Response Team can sign up online via the registration form at bit.ly/vwnvol. Participants will receive details about their selected training sessions after registering. Groups or organizations interested in tailored training sessions are also encouraged to reach out.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 2:43 PM.
