Fall 2026 Support

We know enforcement is happening in our neighborhood and putting community members at risk. Many of you are organizing on your blocks and across the city. hope this information is helpful in keeping us coordinated, connected, and prepared.

Here is an additional resource

https://policefreeschools.org/resources/protecting-immigrant-students-action-kit/

Building Block Networks

Many blocks already have networks, including those that neighbors created in response to Covid and before. If you do not already have a method of communicating as a group among your block or if you are looking at developing it further, you might consider the following:

Communication Tools: Consider group texts, including secure apps like Signal, phone/email trees, and block captains. Think about: How are we communicating (including consideration of the different ways people prefer to communicate and how frequently)? Who is included? Are we being mindful of trust and safety, since not everyone may be allies?
Layers of Response: There are several components in responding to an incident, and different neighbors can serve in different capacities:
1. Preparation and education (resources below): conversations, flyering, resource sharing
2. Responding to incidents: consider designated roles; recognize that different neighbors have different levels of risk and may have different comfort levels
3. Aftercare: supporting targeted individuals, family members, pets, and sharing information with neighbors about what happened
Community Care: Many neighbors have emphasized the importance of joy and gathering, including potlucks, neighborhood walks, block parties, etc.

Important Resources

Rapid Response:

TO DO: Save this number in your phone if you haven't already. Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Hotline (to report incidents): (202) 335-1183. You can also follow them on all social media for (in my opinion, the most reliable) updates regarding law enforcement activities across the District.
TO DO: If you intend to be a bystander, turn off face identification and thumbprint access to your phone. Law enforcement can use those to access your phone without your consent.
Other rapid response support resources include Remora House (see all social media) for support for our unhoused neighbors and DC Safety Squad (an inclusive community response alternative to 911 that is still in development; more information here).

Core Resources (good for flyering):

ICE Emergency Hotlines – DC/MD/VA: what to do and who to call in an emergency (you can make sure this flyer is up-to-date via the drive here)
ICE Watch 101 – DC: recognizing and safely documenting immigration enforcement (you can make sure this flyer is up-to-date via the drive here)
DC/MD/VA Immigrant Resource Guide: community and legal resources by location (comprehensive resource with several different flyers)
Best Practices for Bystanders: know your rights as an ICE observer, tips for what to document when observing, do's and don'ts, and more
AFL-CIO Palm Card: attached as image; working on a digital version via a wonderful neighbor
Red Cards: quick reference rights cards (available on my porch at 715 Van Buren Street, NW, and for purchase here)

Broader Educational Resources (good for education):

Families and Schools

Identification: We know identification is important in this moment. Students can seek various forms, including:
1. DC One Card (DCPS students can get this via their school; charter and private school students need to go to a DC One Card Service Center location).
2. Real ID (non-driver identification card only available for 15 and older; learner's permit available for 16 and older).
3. Passport (including passport card). (I’ve recently done DC One Cards via the service center and passports and cards for my children if you need help navigating any of these processes.)
Transit: We know transit and so-called fare evasion is a risk factor for youth. Find information re Kids Ride Free here, but also note distribution is school specific and historically has faced challenges re distribution and replacing cards that are lost or demagnetized.
1. TO DO: Load Kids Ride Free cards onto phones to help troubleshoot issues (more information here, but note this has some limitations).
2. TO DO: Keep extra SmartTrip cards on you if you come across youth in need of some support.
School Greeters/Walking Groups: Free DC is organizing some efforts more broadly, including around Metro stops; coordinating directly with schools is another option. Example: Capital City PCS has shared this form to volunteer as welcoming faces near schools and Metro stops. (If your school has efforts you'd like me to share, I'd welcome them.)
Family Planning: Support neighbors at risk by being emergency contacts or caring for children and pets if needed.
1. Many Languages One Voice Family Planning Doc in English: a very helpful document; it's not available via an online search but please feel free to share with folks directly
2. Guardianship FAQ Page and Link to POA Guardianship Docs
General Resources:

Businesses and Workers

Private Property Sign (No ICE Access): These signs are appropriate for private areas in schools and businesses. This is California specific but can be easily modified.
NELP/NILC: What To Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace
Restaurant Opportunities Center DC Resources for Workers

thank you to Erin Palmer

Resources: for Newcomers, Migrant families and for our whole communities Ward 4 Education Alliance Meeting

This is what is in place with the current legal framework. If this changes, we will revise.

2025 Guidance from OAG: https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-01/2025.01.24%20School%20Immigration%20Guidance%20-%20English.pdf
CARECIN
Families United DC Metro
www.milmujeres.org
DEFEND DC Education Resource Page

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CCQS-F5PNLwLqHFErmp9he8K8wbxSpm6

Families United DC Metro
Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid hotline
Many Languages One Voice MLOV
U.S. Department of Education letter includes links to many resources currently available: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/key-policy-letters/dear-colleague-letter-resources-ensuring-equal-access-education-immigrant-students
United We Dream-- Migra Watch - What to Do and How to Report ICE in your community. https://unitedwedream.org/resources/how-u-s-citizens-can-protect-the-immigrant-community-from-the-deportation-force/
Ayuda provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in our neighborhoods access justice and transform their lives. For over 50 years, we have served more than 150,000 low-income immigrants throughout Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.
KIND We at KIND have intentionally developed a comprehensive approach within our work to address the multi-faceted needs of unaccompanied migrant children once they are in the U.S. Not only do children come to us in need of legal services, but also often with deep traumas caused by the violence and fear experienced during their forced migration
Print the RED CARDS - in Nine Languages- All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.
https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas
ACTION NETWORK- Defend DC- https://actionnetwork.org/forms/get-involved-to-defend-dc
UCLA ed support and research https://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practitioner(1-8-25).pdf

DCPS Support:

Raquel Ortiz, DCPS Welcome Center (she/her) 7:18 PM
Director, Welcome Center
Language Acquisition Division
Office of Teaching and Learning
Social Emotional Academic Development
District of Columbia Public Schools
O 202.868.6509
C 202.365.6391
E raquel.ortiz@k12.dc.gov