‘Legal observer’ teams forming to protect immigrants

Teams are building across Sonoma County as a rapid response network to “witness, accompany and advocate” when immigrants are threatened by ICE raids.

The goal is to peacefully observe and document the operation of enforcement officers to aid in defense during deportation hearings – not to confront officers or obstruct their activities.

Members will respond to calls made to a Sonoma County-based hotline that will operate 24 hours a day.

Because only trained observers will be allowed to participate, La Luz will host a training session on Saturday, July 22. The session is from 9 a.m. at 17560 Greger St. in Boyes Hot Springs.

Register by contacting: [email protected], with “Legal Observer Training” in the subject line.

The training will be conducted by local community members who have been trained by team members from the San Francisco based Immigrant Liberation Movement. There will be translation in Spanish.

This is a project of members of the North Bay Organizing Project and the Sonoma Valley Action Network.

Members say they are working to create a way for people to respond to fear and anxiety in our community as a result of the increase in immigration enforcement, ICE raids and other attacks.