Immigration
YOU HAVE RIGHTS regardless of your immigration status. You may be at risk of being deported if you are undocumented, if you are a non-citizen with a criminal history, if you are on parole or have a prior deportation order. To protect yourself, your family and your community you must KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
Statements from Bishop Barber
rapid response networks
En caso de ser testigo de una redada llamar a estas líneas de Respuesta Rápida:
Contra Costa County: 925-900-5151
Alameda County: 510-241-4011
San Francisco: 415-200-1548
Santa Clara: 408-290-1144
Monterey: 831-643-5225
San Mateo: 203-666-4472
Fresno: 559-978-4797
Sacramento: 916-245-6773
Santa Cruz: 831-239-4289
Note: These hotline are for witnesses of ICE Activity, Rapid Response & Legal Services in specific counties.
Resources
Know your Rights
No matter who is president, everyone living in the U.S. has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. Undocumented immigrants have these rights, too.
It is important that we all assert and protect our basic rights.
Immigration Law Center Document - Know Your Rights (pdf)
Justice for Immigrants - Responding to Immigration Efforts
Preparation Guides (PDFs)
The following guides can be printed for access when needed:
- Preparation & Response: This guide, developed by the Diocese of Oakland in June 2025, helps families and organizations prepare and respond to ICE personnel. Download here.
- Family Preparedness Plan: A guide, developed by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Download here.
- General Safety Guidelines when ICE arrives. Download here.
- What to do if ICE is at your Door: A printable guide from the ACLU. Download here
FAQs for Undocumented Persons
Keep Your Kids
The Protege a tus Niños Initiative empowers parents with the knowledge and tools to legally designate a Temporary Emergency Guardian for their children. It explains the reasons and shows practical steps, such as writing emergency contact details inside children’s shoes, to ensure legal and emotional safeguards in case of family separation.
Bay Area Nonprofits Assisting with Immigration Issues
General San Francisco Bay Area |
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Arab Resource & Organizing Center 415-861-7444 |
Family immigration; Naturalization; Referrals for asylum & deportation defense |
|
Asian Law Caucus 415-896-1701 |
Immigration; Landlord/Tenant Disputes; Juvenile Court/School Disputes |
|
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach 415-567-6255 |
VAWA, U-Visas; Family immigration |
|
Bar Association of San Francisco Volunteer Legal Services Program 415-782-8965 |
Deportation defense; VAWA; Family Law; Eviction defense; Legal advice |
|
Bay Area Legal Aid Toll-free: 800-551-5554 Alamada County: 510-250-5270 Contra Costa-West: 510-250-5270 Contra Costa-East: 925-219-3325 Marin: 415-354-6360 Napa: 707-320-6348 San Francisco: 415-354-6360 San Mateo: 650-472-2666 Santa Clara: 408-850-7066 |
Family Law; Domestic violence; Housing; Health Care help; Public benefits
|
|
Canal Alliance 415-306-0420 |
Family visa petitions; Adjustment to permanent residence |
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CARECEN 415-642-4400 |
Deportation defense; Family visa petitions; FOIA and FBI records |
|
Catholic Charities East Bay – Immigration & Legal Services www.cceb.org/immigration-legal-services Oakland: 510-768-3100 |
Family immigration; Citizenship; Employment & hosing help |
|
Filipino Advocates for Justice filipinos4justice.org/immigration-naturalization/
|
Naturalization assistance; family reunification assistance; public benefits |
|
International Institute of the Bay Area Oakland: 510-451-2846 San Francisco: 415-538-8100 San Mateo: 650-780-7530 Napa: 707-266-1568 |
VAWA, U-Visas; Family immigration; Citizenship; Deportation defense |
|
Korean Community Center of the East Bay 510-547-2662 |
Naturalization; re-entry permit; green card renewal |
|
La Raza Centro Legal 415-575-3500 |
Family immigration; VAWA; U-visas; Citizenship; Employment, Housing |
|
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights 415-543-9444 |
Asylum; Legal services |
|
National Center for Lesbian Rights 415-392-6257 |
Asylum; counseling |
|
Positive Resource Center 415-972-0808 |
Employment; Housing; Benefits counseling for HIV+ |
|
San Francisco Superior Court, Family Court 415-551-3903 |
Family law |
|
Women & Children’s Immigration Center 415-861-1449 |
Special Juvenile Status; VAWA; U-visa; T-Visa; Guardianship for minors |
|
Dolores Street Community Services 415-282-6209, ext. 23 |
Deportation defense; consultations; U-visa; referrals |
|
Pangea Legal Services 925-785-8735 |
Adjustment of status; Asylum applications; Consular processing; DACA; Employment authorization; family petitions; NACARA; Citizenship; Removal hearings; SIJS; T-visas; TPS; U-visas; VAWA |
East Bay |
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Centro Legal de la Raza https://www.centrolegal.org/immigrants-rights/ 510-437-1554 |
Family immigration; VAWA, Asylum; Citizenship |
|
East Bay Community Law Center 510-548-4040 |
Family law; General legal; Housing; Immigration for HIV+, Public benefits |
|
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant 510-540-0956 |
Asylum, U-Visa, TPS, DACA, Citizenship |
|
Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation 510-261-7839 |
Family immigration; Citizenship |
San Mateo & Santa Clara Counties |
|
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Asian Law Alliance San Jose 408-287-9710 |
Housing, U-visas; public benefits; citizenship; VAWA |
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Community Law Center in San Jose 408-288-7030 |
Family Immigration; Asylum; Removal defense |
|
Immigration Services of Mountain View 650-938-4911 |
Citizenship, family petitions; VAWA, U-visas |
|
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto 650-326-6440 |
U-visas; VAWA; TPS; Family petitions; Adjustment of status; Deportation defense; background checks; housing; consumer/civil law |
|
Legal Aid Society of San Mateo 650-558-0915 |
Health care; housing; pubic benefits; family law; special education services; adult disabilities |
Free Social Services
Free Assistance with Immigration/Housing/Mental Health
Free Legal Advice:
Free Medical Clinic
Free Prenatal Care Clinics
Immediate Practical Help for Pregnant Mothers:
Mental Health Ministry:
Pastoral & Faith Formation Resources
Pastoral Responses to Immigration Reform
Suggestions of how you and your parish can engage in pastoral and political action around immigration reform. Download here.
Pilgrims of Hope: A Catholic Response to the Needs of our Times
Pilgrims of Hope: A Catholic Response to the Needs of our Times
In union with the Universal Church to the call to be Pilgrims of Hope, the Offices of Respect Life-Social Justice and Latino Ministries of the Diocese of Oakland offer parish visits to support immigrant communities and people in solidarity to receive the following intentions:
- Prayer: with the entire community in collaboration with the parish priest, emphasizing the pilgrim Church and baptismal identity.
- Basic information: on precautionary measures and general guidelines for the community.
- Training: Support and creation of parish leaders who serve as a bridge to resources and are spokespersons for information.
- Cost: Donations are accepted to continue supporting our ministries. We are here to serve you. Contact us to schedule a visit to your parish.
“Ultimately, the migrant's search for a future expresses a need for salvation shared by all, regardless of race or condition”
Pope Francis
Your servants,
Hector Medina -Latino Ministries hmedina@oakdiocese.org
Kiona Medina -Respect Life-Social Justice Ministry kmedina@oakdiocese.org
Statements from the Bishops
Find statements from the California Catholic Conference and the bishops from around our state: Learn More
Find statements from the USCCB and bishops from around the country: Learn more
Bay Area Nonprofits Assisting with Immigration Issues
General San Francisco Bay Area |
|
|
Arab Resource & Organizing Center 415-861-7444 |
Family immigration; Naturalization; Referrals for asylum & deportation defense |
|
Asian Law Caucus 415-896-1701 |
Immigration; Landlord/Tenant Disputes; Juvenile Court/School Disputes |
|
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach 415-567-6255 |
VAWA, U-Visas; Family immigration |
|
Bar Association of San Francisco Volunteer Legal Services Program 415-782-8965 |
Deportation defense; VAWA; Family Law; Eviction defense; Legal advice |
|
Bay Area Legal Aid Toll-free: 800-551-5554 Alamada County: 510-250-5270 Contra Costa-West: 510-250-5270 Contra Costa-East: 925-219-3325 Marin: 415-354-6360 Napa: 707-320-6348 San Francisco: 415-354-6360 San Mateo: 650-472-2666 Santa Clara: 408-850-7066 |
Family Law; Domestic violence; Housing; Health Care help; Public benefits
|
|
Canal Alliance 415-306-0420 |
Family visa petitions; Adjustment to permanent residence |
|
CARECEN 415-642-4400 |
Deportation defense; Family visa petitions; FOIA and FBI records |
|
Catholic Charities East Bay – Immigration & Legal Services www.cceb.org/immigration-legal-services Oakland: 510-768-3100 |
Family immigration; Citizenship; Employment & hosing help |
|
Filipino Advocates for Justice filipinos4justice.org/immigration-naturalization/
|
Naturalization assistance; family reunification assistance; public benefits |
|
International Institute of the Bay Area Oakland: 510-451-2846 San Francisco: 415-538-8100 San Mateo: 650-780-7530 Napa: 707-266-1568 |
VAWA, U-Visas; Family immigration; Citizenship; Deportation defense |
|
Korean Community Center of the East Bay 510-547-2662 |
Naturalization; re-entry permit; green card renewal |
|
La Raza Centro Legal 415-575-3500 |
Family immigration; VAWA; U-visas; Citizenship; Employment, Housing |
|
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights 415-543-9444 |
Asylum; Legal services |
|
National Center for Lesbian Rights 415-392-6257 |
Asylum; counseling |
|
Positive Resource Center 415-972-0808 |
Employment; Housing; Benefits counseling for HIV+ |
|
San Francisco Superior Court, Family Court 415-551-3903 |
Family law |
|
Women & Children’s Immigration Center 415-861-1449 |
Special Juvenile Status; VAWA; U-visa; T-Visa; Guardianship for minors |
|
Dolores Street Community Services 415-282-6209, ext. 23 |
Deportation defense; consultations; U-visa; referrals |
|
Pangea Legal Services 925-785-8735 |
Adjustment of status; Asylum applications; Consular processing; DACA; Employment authorization; family petitions; NACARA; Citizenship; Removal hearings; SIJS; T-visas; TPS; U-visas; VAWA |
East Bay |
|
|
Centro Legal de la Raza https://www.centrolegal.org/immigrants-rights/ 510-437-1554 |
Family immigration; VAWA, Asylum; Citizenship |
|
East Bay Community Law Center 510-548-4040 |
Family law; General legal; Housing; Immigration for HIV+, Public benefits |
|
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant 510-540-0956 |
Asylum, U-Visa, TPS, DACA, Citizenship |
|
Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation 510-261-7839 |
Family immigration; Citizenship |
San Mateo & Santa Clara Counties |
|
|
Asian Law Alliance San Jose 408-287-9710 |
Housing, U-visas; public benefits; citizenship; VAWA |
|
Community Law Center in San Jose 408-288-7030 |
Family Immigration; Asylum; Removal defense |
|
Immigration Services of Mountain View 650-938-4911 |
Citizenship, family petitions; VAWA, U-visas |
|
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto 650-326-6440 |
U-visas; VAWA; TPS; Family petitions; Adjustment of status; Deportation defense; background checks; housing; consumer/civil law |
|
Legal Aid Society of San Mateo 650-558-0915 |
Health care; housing; pubic benefits; family law; special education services; adult disabilities |
Free Social Services
Free Assistance with Immigration/Housing/Mental Health
Free Legal Advice:
Free Medical Clinic
Free Prenatal Care Clinics
Immediate Practical Help for Pregnant Mothers:
Mental Health Ministry:
United in Prayer with Our Immigrant Community - Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ. Statement from August 2025.
Bishop Barber in Solidarity with Abp. Gomez Regarding Immigration Raids - Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ. Statement from June 2025.
Find statements from the California Catholic Conference and the bishops from around our state: Learn More
Find statements from the USCCB and bishops from around the country: Learn more