The Welcoming Network is expanding our work to accompany more families directly impacted by the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts, as many of our longtime neighbors are now being made into refugees within their own communities. In response to current realities, we are focused on strengthening legal and financial support for asylum seekers and other refugees, supporting families affected by ICE abductions, and activating community partnerships. This work is being led by a new Solidarity Team, which helps coordinate efforts and mobilize resources to build a stronger collective response.

As ICE efforts intensify to deport thousands of immigrants, many local parents are living with constant fear—fear of being taken, fear of family separation, and fear of what will happen to their children if they cannot be there to care for them. In response, Welcoming Network volunteers and partners have stepped up to help families complete Childcare Safety Plans (CSPs), a free bilingual tool that allows parents to designate trusted caregivers and protect their children from sudden exclusion from school, medical care, or community life. More than 1,000 local children are now covered by a CSP.

As a 100% volunteer-run organization, the Santa Cruz Welcoming Network relies on community members who contribute their energy, skills, and care. From housing setup to legal services, food delivery to emotional support, volunteers step up as they can. "There are many 'small' roles that make a big impact," says Roop Ghangas, who recently helped organize a Pro Bono Asylum Clinic with the Santa Cruz Removal Defense Collaborative. The WN's flexibility allows her to volunteer evenings and weekends while managing a full-time job and caring for her young son.