By Melanie Slone
As immigration raids and deportations are on the rise, communities should learn how to protect themselves. “We’re seeing an escalation,” says Arcela Nuñez, cofounder of Universidad Popular, “a much larger presence of Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and all the other enforcement agencies.”
Plus, adds Nuñez, “The federal budget has been approved, and a very large number of agents will get deployed. I think North County is going to see that, along with high-caliber weapons…We have to get ready. We’re surrounded by checkpoints in North County: Temecula, San Clemente, east on the 8,” she says.
Stricter Enforcement
Because of the 3000-a-day detention quota, anyone with any prior conviction, even a driving under the influence (DUI) years ago or a mistake on an immigration form, can be detained and deported. “I have a client who had a DUI years ago. He paid the fine…he thought he was clear, and now Immigration is opening his case again,” says Ana Serrano, the director of Las Valientes.
Notes Geraldine von Borstel, an immigration lawyer, “I’m seeing things I’d never seen before…It is getting harder to get cases approved.”
Immigration forms have an expiration date that is being updated about every three months, meaning people are missing the deadline. “It’s almost like setting you up for failure,” says von Borstel.
“I’m seeing more arrests at court hearing interviews, residency interviews with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or fingerprinting appointments,” she adds. “I’m seeing more people being sent to secondary inspection for questioning when they’re returning from a trip and an increase in USCIS processing times.”
Von Borstel says she doesn’t tell anyone they’re 100% safe, even if they have no criminal record. In North County, arrests of people with no convictions or pending charges rose from 13% in 2024 to 30% so far in 2025, according to Axios San Diego.
Lack of Funding
“Legal representation continues to be the number one challenge,” says Nuñez. “The demand for immigration lawyers… and support for families who are making arrangements to self- deport,” she adds.
“A lot of people need deportation or detention attorneys right away, within days, at no cost or very low cost,” says Sandra Carmona of UURISE. “It’s out of reach for so many immigrants in our community, especially farmworkers.”
UURISE, Universidad Popular, and others are working with family members of detained individuals. “We identify the family member who has been picked up,” says Carmona. “We know that there’s not a lot of time. Every minute counts… being able to get access to that representation will make the biggest difference in whether somebody is able to stay or gets deported.”
User Data Shared with the Federal Government
The Privacy Act has kept the federal government away from user data for programs that are collaborations between federal and state agencies (Medi-Cal and food stamps [CalFresh]) for some 50 years. But Trump’s Executive Order “Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos” seeks to allow the government to access individual and household data, including addresses and phone numbers.
In July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) agreed to give ICE officials access to data on people enrolled. The Trump administration is pressuring states to share data on food stamp recipients.
California and 20 other states have sued the Trump administration, arguing its attempts to use this data to target individual immigrants is illegal. Most healthcare and social service programs have joined the California state government in this fight.
Denaturalization of US Citizens
On June 11 the U.S. Department of Justice published a memo listing priorities for deportation, including naturalized citizens eligible for denaturalization, or a revocation of their U.S. citizenship if they commit crimes such as terrorism and espionage; violent crimes like gang and cartel activity; major fraud, especially regarding healthcare; and misrepresentation on naturalization forms, such as prior convictions.
The memo also notes that citizenship may be revoked for “anycase deemed sufficiently important.” This phrase is considered ambiguous and may mean naturalization could turn into a “conditional citizenship” to be revoked at any time.
There are also new legal and financial requirements for those seeking citizenship, including having paid in full any IRS debt, traffic fines, and child support; and proof of good “moral character,” which is not clearly defined.
Fake News
It’s very important not to panic but instead to get reliable information and be prepared. “There’s a lot of misinformation on social media, and the community is very scared…It does make a huge difference if you are informed from reliable sources,” says von Borstel. She urges people to talk to immigration attorneys, many of whom are providing free phone consultations.
Nuñez explains that Know Your Rights presentations teach you how to prepare. And the USCIS website posts policies the government is continuously updating.
Steps to Protect Yourself
- Review your case with an immigration lawyer, which is different from a criminal lawyer. Also, be aware that notaries have no legal authority in the United States.
- Don’t try to solve immigration cases by yourself. Consult an immigration lawyer for each individual case.
- Keep records of any arrests, including traffic stops. Don’t get involved in any legal matters including driving tickets, domestic violence disputes, disturbing the peace (such as playing loud music), or any other possible citations.
- Keep your tax filings, employment history, children’s school records, and any papers showing how you have been positively engaged with your community.
- If you’re considering self-deportation, talk to an immigration attorney first to understand your rights and the consequences.
- Ask older children what they would like to do in the case of a parent’s deportation. Find out about power of attorney and temporary custody for your children if you must leave them in the United States.
Resources
- Las Valientes: Ed Perez, immigration lawyer, free consultations Fridays / (760) 439-1133 / 1001 E Vista Way, Suite C, Vista
- Immigration Attorney Geraldine von Borstel, free consultations: (760) 330-3435 / Cafecito con la Comunidad, One Safe Place 10150 Los Vallecitos, San Marcos, 2nd Friday of month / with mobile Mexican Consulate
- Immigrant Rights Legal Defense Program (IRLDP): (619) 446-2883
- IRLDP en español: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/oac/docs/10-31-22/IRLDP_Spanish.pdf
- Immigration Legal Service Coalition:(858) 751-7553.
- Universidad Popular is accompanying people to their immigration hearings and training community educators. 261 Autumn Dr. Ste 115, San Marcos / 760-659-0109 /
- UURISE: 760-477-7537
- Dra. Beatriz Villarreal records Zoom Know Your Rights presentations and shares them virtually with community members who sign up. 760-492-8897
Universidad Popular’s Private Attorney Referral List
Amezola Legal Group
619-255-7310
2727 Camino del Rio S Suite 323
San Diego, CA 92108
English, Spanish
Jacobs & Schlesinger, LLP
110 West C Street, Ste. 1810
San Diego 92101
(619)-230-0012
English, Spanish
Law Offices of Fabiola A. Navarro
2667 Camino del Rio S., Ste. 301-20
San Diego 92108
(619)-995-3224
English, Spanish
Law Offices of Tammy Sumontha
401 B Street, Suite # 2010
San Diego 92101
(619)-734-7345
English, Spanish, Thai, Lao
Law Offices of Erin J. Lee, P.C.
500 La Terraza Blvd., Suite #150
Escondido 92025
(619)-361-1015
English, Spanish, Korean
Tondini Law Group
2173 Salk Ave., Ste. 250
Carlsbad 92008
(760)-579-7389
English, Spanish
Colin Law
1901 1st Ave., Ste. 217A
Chula Vista 91911
(619)-347-4238
Law Offices of Ian M. Seruelo
7710 Balboa Ave., Suite # 325
San Diego 92111
(281)-455-2462 / (858)-256-0227
English, Filipino (Tagalog, Hiligaynon), Spanish
Immigration & Community Assistance
Organizaciones locales de confianza
Alianza Comunitaria
833-459-2938
https://www.facebook.com/Alianza760/?locale=es_LA
https://www.instagram.com/alianzacomunitaria
Casa Cornelia
Ed Perez, Immigration Lawyer
Free consultations, consultas gratuitas Fridays 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Las Valientes
1001 E. Vista Way, Suite C. Vista 92084
Geraldine Von Borstel, Immigration Lawyer
760-330-3435
2292 Faraday Ave., Carlsbad 92008
Jewish Family Foundation
Pro bono immigration legal services.
Las Valientes
Ana Serrano, director, Las Valientes
(760) 439-1133
Lived Experiences
Free grocery home delivery service, free laundry and youth mentoring in the city of Oceanside.
610 N. Redondo Dr., Oceanside
Mano a Mano Foundation
Community-wide workshops in Spanish at Farr Elementary in Escondido and sites in Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos and Valley Center.
One Safe Place
760-290-3690
1050 Los Vallecitos Blvd., San Marcos
Universidad Popular
760-659-0109
UURISE
1600 Buena Vista Dr
Vista, CA 92081
VOCES … de Obreros, Campesinos y Estudiantes
760-468-4519
