Graphic by Dennise Arriaza and Dani Ramirez
Written by Dennise Arriaza
Ventura County has continued to see a rise of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. This has led to sightings of ICE at the Superior Court of Ventura County and in local neighborhoods. These ICE agents have continued to impact the community.
During times of adversity there are many different outlooks one can look at in order to feel supported by the community around us. For Ventura County specifically, there are many different groups that are helping alert our communities of the threats ICE has against our communities. Some of these groups, like VC Defensa, provide hotlines to report ICE activity in the communities in order to properly alert citizens in the area. The hotline is 805-296-1119 to report any potential ICE activity.
In order to verify reports VC Defensa has trained community volunteers who collect evidence of ICE activity to verify their reports. VC Defensa also has meetings to protect and connect with community members to find other ways to volunteer. With over 47,000 followers on Instagram, VC Defensa proves to be a reliable source for the Ventura community.
Another resource here in the community is the 805 Undocufund. The 805 Undocufund is able to provide emergency assistance funds, which provide people with direct financial relief to undocumented or mixed status families affected by immigration enforcements. The EAF helps families undergoing legal fees or rent fees. Anyone is able to donate on their website. Similar to VC Defensa they also have a rapid response team of volunteers to respond to any sightings of potential ICE activity. More information can be found on their website.
With the effects of ICE in the community it is important to know where to look in case of an emergency. Having these different trusted resources present is your best defense for these difficult times. Remember your constitutionally protected rights and stay safe.
