As fears of federal agent encounters grow and immigrant families avoid leaving home, workers in Santa Clara County are finding creative ways to meet clients in safe spaces.
That community effort has formed an underground support network where social workers shift visits to odd hours of the night, connect with clients in private settings like homes or cars and organize support groups to provide groceries and other necessities in a safe manner.
Since President Donald Trump began his mass deportation campaign last year, Ruby Lopez-Flores, a worker at nonprofit Rebekah Children’s Services, has met with more at-risk youth inside their vehicles. She said the fear of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lead to an unprecedented amount of students canceling appointments. Lopez-Flores works to support at-risk youth with school engagement, improve family dynamics and provide coping skills…