Provider Type: Government

Government

What AB 60 License Holders Need to Know About Real ID

10/2/20 Report from CA Immigration Policy Center (CIPC) – REAL ID is one type of identification that can also function as a driver’s license. The REAL ID Act was a law passed by Congress in 2005. It created a new standard for state-issued driver’s licenses and identity cards to meet federal requirements. REAL ID driver’s licenses and identity cards can be used as ID to board domestic flights within the United States or to enter some federal facilities like federal courthouses and military bases. If you, or someone you know, is an AB60 license holder, this is what you need to know.

How California’s Law Enforcement Agencies Continue Working with ICE

10-8-20 TWO YEARS AFTER THE SIGNING OF
THE CALIFORNIA VALUES ACT – Following the 2016 presidential election, California passed SB 54 (2017), the California Values Act, (“the Values Act”)”the strongest anti-deportation law in the country. The previous year, California passed AB 2792 (2016), the Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds Act (“the TRUTH Act”), ensuring that immigrants in local law enforcement custody know their rights and provide consent before being subject to an interview with an ICE officer. Key Words: RRN, KYR

SCC Section 8 Rental Assistance Interest List Registration

Online Registration is STILL open! To improve your access to housing opportunities, our new online interest lists are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Joining our interest lists tells us you would like to receive rental assistance in Santa Clara County through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8).
The Santa Clara County Housing Authority will never charge you to receive a Section 8 voucher. Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |

CISA Faith Based Community Cybersecurity Resources

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is committed to supporting efforts to maintain safe and secure houses of worship and related facilities while sustaining an open and welcoming environment. In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives and the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization, CISA provides resources that assist in securing physical and cyber infrastructure.

CA COVID-19 Health Equity Playbook for Communities

12/1/20 Strategies and Practices for an Equitable Reopening and Recovery – The COVID-19
pandemic has underscored stark disparities, particularly among Latino communities. This booklet is a part of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy includes a Health Equity Metric to help ensure that California’s public health interventions and guidance reach individuals in all communities statewide, especially disproportionately impacted communities.
Blueprintforasafereconomy-sp

Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office

Services Provided ***Information relating to unattended, unusual, violent, or accidental deaths ***Autopsy reports relating to unattended, unusual, violent, or accidental deaths ***Private autopsies (cost associated), when requested by the legal next-of-kin and approved by the on-call Medical Examiner ***Community education classes and presentations ***Decedent identification and notification of next-of-kin
Request for Indigent Internment
Key Words: Cremation, Funeral

Valley Connection Call Center (Testing & Vaccination Appointments)

2/4/21 The County’s website
provides information and links for making vaccine appointments with providers across the county.
In addition, SCC residents without internet access or who need additional assistance can make appointments for the County Health System vaccine sites through the Valley Connection Call Center at 408-970-2000. The Call Center is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4:30pm. Multi-language: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages .Key Words: Pandemic, COVID-19

Immigration Policy Tracking Project

2/21 This “TrumpTracker” Immigration Policy Tracking Project catalogues every known Trump-era immigration policy from January 2017 through the end of the administration.
Entries describing Trump policies contain the official source documents, are catalogued by date under “view all policies,” and are searchable by subject area, agency affected, type of action, and other categories.
Biden administration actions that affect or rescind Trump-era policies are prominently noted under the individual policy entries. An overview of Biden announcements appears on the summaries page.

Season of Sharing forms and guidelines – Revised

11/21 Assistance from the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund is available to low-to-moderate income families with dependent children, senior citizens (55+), disabled individuals, veterans, victims of domestic violence, pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester, and transitioning emancipated foster youth who have a critical need and who reside in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, or Sonoma.
Housing Assistance and Critical Family Needs assistance is provided in the form of grants that are paid directly to the supplier of services, such as a landlord. Applicants do not receive direct grants. Multi-language:
Spanish

Archive – SJ passes mandatory $3-an-hour pay raise for grocery workers

2/9/21 Thousands of San Jose grocery store workers will soon receive a $3-an-hour boost on their paychecks, as San Jose became the latest city to pass a new ordinance compelling large grocers to offer their employees hazard pay for their high risk of catching COVID-19 at work.
The San Jose City Council voted 7-3 Tuesday night for a new ordinance temporarily requiring corporate grocery stores, chain supermarkets and retail stores that sell groceries and employ at least 300 people nationwide to pay workers an additional $3 an hour on top of their regular wages. The ordinance will last for 120 days after it goes into effect. Small businesses and franchises with less than 300 employees are exempt.

DOJ Rescinds Trump ‘Zero Tolerance’ Rule That Separated Thousands of Migrant Families

1/26/21 The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations.
Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson issued the new memo to federal prosecutors across the nation, saying the department would return to its longstanding previous policy and instructing prosecutors to act on the merits of individual cases.

An equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccine must include noncitizens

1/26/21 On Dec. 14, 2020, with the initiation of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, the nation saw its first glimmer of hope during the pandemic. However, that sense of hope is not necessarily shared by a vital segment of the population: noncitizens. Noncitizens work in high-risk, essential industries but have been overlooked in the pandemic response. To protect both the lives and livelihoods of all people in the United States, it is critical that noncitizens are equitably included in COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Key Words: Undocumented

How Biden Can Restore Humanitarian Protection at the Border

1/5/21 Asylum seekers represent a small fraction of the people who come to the United States each year, yet previous administrations have feared their arrival.
This crisis-based mindset has fueled ever-increasing brutality at the border, with family detention eventually metastasizing into family separation. But despite the Trump administration’s torturous and cruel policies, people have continued to seek protection at our border. Keu Words: Immigrants, Immigrants

Human Trafficking: Coordinating a California Response

6/20 In this report, we examine what is known about the extent of the problem in California and find that little
authoritative data exists to explain where and how frequently this crime occurs across our state. We also explain how labor trafficking is a form of human trafficking that often is hidden, sometimes in plain sight. But that the
consequences of this crime are severe for the men and women forced to endure exploitative work, whether in
a home, a restaurant, a building site, or a factory. The Commission recommends California create an entity to
coordinate anti-trafficking activities statewide, as other states have done, and suggests remedies to enhance our
understanding of this crime and our ability to fight it.

REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions

After the May 7, 2025 deadline, Federal agencies, including DHS and TSA, may only accept state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards as identification to access federal facilities – including TSA airport security checkpoints – if it was issued by a REAL ID compliant state (meaning the license or card must include the REAL ID compliant star marking). Additional questions may be sent to the Department of Homeland Security at REALID@hq.dhs.gov

Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version) English/Spanish

Beginning on April 19, 2021, USCIS is administering only the 2008 civics test to N-400 applicants at their initial interview appointment, regardless of their filing date. USCIS will no longer offer the 2020 civics test at the initial interview, but will continue to provide study materials for the 2020 test for those applicants who are eligible to choose between the 2008 or 2020 civics test at their re-exam or N-336 hearing.
Spanish

DHS Statement on the Suspension of New Enrollments in the Migrant Protection Protocols Program

1/20/21 DHS announced the suspension of new enrollments in the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program. Effective January 21, the Department will cease adding individuals into the program. However, current COVID-19 non-essential travel restrictions, both at the border and in the region, remain in place at this time. All current MPP participants should remain where they are, pending further official information from U.S. government officials. Multi-languagel:
Spanish
Key Words: Asylum

How Joe Biden’s immigration plan works, and what it would mean for California

President Joe Biden on his first day in office sent Congress an extensive immigration proposal that could have big implications for California, which is home to the largest undocumented immigrant population in the nation.
The plan, known as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, would provide a pathway to citizenship to the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States. About 2 million of them live in California.

Senate Democrats introduce legislation to grant Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans

1/25/21 Democratic senators introduced legislation to grant Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, to Venezuelans in the U.S., saying the actions former President Donald Trump took on his last day in office to shield Venezuelans from deportation fall short.
Biden said during the presidential campaign that he would extend TPS protections for Venezuelans. TPS can be granted by Congress or through a presidential executive order. Key Words: Immigration, law,

Amid Covid Health Worker Shortage, Foreign-Trained Professionals Sit on Sidelines

1/27/21 As hospitals nationwide struggle with the latest covid-19 surge, it’s not so much beds or ventilators in short supply. It’s the people to care for the sick.
Yet a large, highly skilled workforce of foreign-educated doctors, nurses and other health practitioners is going largely untapped due to licensing and credentialing barriers. According to the Migration Policy Institute think tank in Washington, D.C., some 165,000 foreign-trained immigrants in the U.S. hold degrees in health-related fields but are unemployed or underemployed in the midst of the health crisis.
Many of these workers have invaluable experience dealing with infectious disease epidemics such as SARS, Ebola or HIV in other countries yet must sit out the covid pandemic.

Surgeon general- Immigration status should not be barrier to receiving COVID-19 vaccine

12/20/20 Surgeon General Jerome Adams encouraged undocumented immigrants across the U.S. to get vaccinated for COVID-19 when shots become available, saying during an interview on Sunday that it is a public health priority to see as many people vaccinated as possible.
Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” the nation’s top doctor said that a person’s immigration status should not serve as a barrier between them and a COVID-19 vaccine.

California students rush to apply for DACA for the first time in 3 years

12/22/20 With the door to apply for DACA open for the first time in more than three years, hundreds of high school and college students in California are rushing to apply, fearful it will be slammed shut again.
“We’re on a mad dash to put out as much educational content for folks as possible” said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, the state and local policy manager for United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the country. “We know that this window is open, but we don’t know for how long.”

CA Notify Contact Tracing

You have the power to help your friends, family and community Add your phone to California’s exposure notification system to get COVID-19 exposure alerts and to protect those around you. Once you activate CA Notify, it does all the work. All you do is keep your Bluetooth on. You will only receive alerts if you were in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Your privacy is protected as your identity is not known and your location is not tracked. Frequently asked questions Key Words: Pandemic, Multi-Language: Spanish Vietnamese Tagalog Chinese Russian Korean

Coronavirus Advice for Consumers

AVOID CORONAVIRUS SCAMS with advice from the FTC: learn how to tell the difference between a real contact tracer and a scammer. Legitimate tracers need health information, not money or personal financial information. *** Don’t respond to texts, emails or calls about checks from the government. Here’s what you need to know.*** Ignore offers for vaccinations and miracle treatments or cures. Scammers are selling products to treat or prevent COVID-19 without proof that they work.

Archive – The Effect of COVID-19 on Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Abroad

9/3020 Tens of thousands of people remain in immigration detention despite the high risk of COVID-19 transmission in crowded jails, prisons, and detention centers that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uses to hold noncitizens. The pandemic led to the suspension of many immigration court hearings and limited the functioning of the few courts which remain open or were reopened. Meanwhile, Congress left millions of immigrants and their families out of legislative relief, leaving many people struggling to stay afloat in a time of economic uncertainty.
This report seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of COVID-19 across the immigration system in the United States.

Update: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

On July 16, 2021, a Texas judge issued a ruling partially ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While USCIS can accept first-time applications, this decision prevents USCIS from approving or processing them. Therefore, if you choose to submit a first-time application, you will not get a response on this application or be refunded for the $495 application fee. You should consult with an accredited representative or lawyer if you have additional questions about submitting a first-time application.

Civil Rights Victory in Texas is a Model for Environmental Progress Nationwide

12/11/20 In a win for civil rights and environmental protection in Texas, the state has agreed to guarantee access to information and opportunities for Spanish-language and other non-English dominant communities to participate in decisions that affect their environment and health, including the siting of polluting facilities and infrastructure.

Wellbeing & Suicide Prevention Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community

11/20 The County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services department has released a new resource for members of the LGBTQ+ community. This two-sided flyer lists 25 different places to get support, including counseling, medical care, crisis lines, and peer support. Multi-language: English,
Spanish,
Chinese, and Vietnamese. Key Wprds: SCC, therapy,

CA Legislature Passes First-in-the-Nation COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package

8/31/20 the California Legislature for the passage of his first-in-the-nation Farmworker COVID-19 Relief Package. Each of the relief package’s three bills received strong, bipartisan support, and are”together”a bold effort to protect the health, safety, and access to state services for agricultural workers in California, as well as the nation’s food supply. With increasing evidence of disproportionate outbreaks of COVID-19 among farmworker communities, the bills now head to the Governor’s desk for consideration.

AirNow Interactive National Air Quality Map

AirNow is your one-stop source for air quality data. Our recently redesigned site highlights air quality in your local area first, while still providing air quality information at state, national, and world views. A new interactive map even lets you zoom out to get the big picture or drill down to see data for a single air quality monitor.
AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy for you. When you know the AQI in your area, you can take steps to protect your health.

Wi-Fi Hotspots for San Jose Library Members

As part of the SJ Access initiative, you can check out a Wi-Fi hotspot device with your SJPL membership. Not a Library member, yet? Get a library card
This service is FREE and available to adults (18+) living in Santa Clara County.
Hotspot devices are subject to availability and can only be requested by calling a participating location (see list). Key Words: Communication, internet, connect

CBP Refuses to Tell Congress How it is Tracking Americans Without a Warrant

10/23/20 The CBP is buying location data harvested from ordinary apps installed on peoples’ phones.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is refusing to tell Congress what legal authority the agency is following to use commercially bought location data to track Americans without a warrant, according to the office of Senator Ron Wyden. The agency is buying location data from Americans all over the country, not just in border areas. Key Words: KYR, Privacy, ICE, Deportation, immigrant

A Muslim prayer app was doing more than reminding users to pray. It was selling their info

11/20/20 Users of the popular Muslim prayer app Muslim Pro are posting negative reviews and taking to Twitter to discuss their disappointment after a news report revealed the app was selling users’ information to companies and government agencies. An investigation and report by Vice’s Motherboard found that the app sold location data and other personal information to a third-party broker called X-Mode. X-Mode later sold that same data to defense contractors that provide information to agencies like the U.S. military.

CA Same Day Voter Registration

Same Day Voter Registration, known as Conditional Voter Registration in state law, is a safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information for an election.
Eligible citizens who need to register or re-register to vote within 14 days of an election can complete this process to register and vote at their county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Their ballots will be processed and counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.
Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for a list of early voting locations where you can complete the Same Day Voter Registration Process.
Need to register on Election Day? Use our polling place lookup tool to find your local polling location.

USCIS Fee Rule Halted in Its Entirety in Response to Litigation Filed by AILA and Sidley Austin LLP

9/30/20 AILA applauds the Court’s expeditious order to set aside USCIS’s unprecedented attempt to dramatically raise fees prior to November’s Presidential Election. The DHS’s Fee Rule, which would have doubled or tripled application fees for many essential immigration benefits, was set to go into effect on October 2, 2020. Not only did Judge White carefully identify that DHS leadership did not have the authority to issue the rule, Judge White recognized that the government pushed to increase fees arbitrarily without considering important concerns identified by plaintiffs and thousands of commenters in opposition to the rule, including the negative impact the rule would have on low-income immigrant populations and those seeking asylum.
Current Fees 10/16/20

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)

CAPI is a 100% state-funded program designed to provide monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) solely due to their immigration status. The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) eliminated SSI/SSP eligibility for most non-citizens. As a result, most immigrants who were not receiving SSI/SSP in August 1996 are no longer eligible for SSI/SSP. The amount of CAPI benefits is equivalent to the amount of SSI/SSP benefits.
CAPI recipients may be eligible for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), but they must file for each benefit separately. There is no automatic eligibility link between CAPI and these other programs.

Disaster Food Stamps  (D-SNAP)

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP or Disaster CalFresh) gives food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster. D-SNAP uses different standards than normal SNAP. If you would not normally qualify for SNAP, you may qualify for D-SNAP. Disaster Calfresh Eligibility
Current SNAP clients may also request replacement benefits for food that was lost in the disaster and bought with SNAP benefits.
Disaster Relief is not subject to Public Charge.

CDC Social Vulnerability Index

Social vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. Such stresses include natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss.
CDC Social Vulnerability Index (CDC SVI) uses 15 U.S. census variables to help local officials identify communities that may need support before, during, or after disasters.

Who is most at risk from wildfires?

75 communities throughout California live in areas of severe risk from wildfires. This map highlights the relative social vulnerabilities which impacts how well they may be able to respond and recover. With this map you can:
Click on communities to learn about their social vulnerability.
Search for specific addresses, so you can gauge the level of wildfire risk.
Physical vulnerability to wildfire uses McClatchy’s analysis of wildland-urban interface areas (WUI’s), areas with populations of more than over 1,000 with 90% of residents living within Very High Fire Severity Zones. Social vulnerability was determined by using 5 factors from the CDC’s index; pct of people living below the poverty line, aged 65 yrs. old and older, pct of housing in structures with 10 or more units, pct of households with no vehicles, and pct of non-institutionalized populations with a disability. Data used for this map can be downloaded here.

SCC Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR) Newsletter: September 2020

10/31/20 Santa Clara County joins more than hundreds of communities across the Us to celebrate Welcoming Week 2020. For this year’s theme, “Creating Home Together,” the OIR hosted virtual events during the week of 9/9/20 – 9/12/20
Activities included FREE virtual legal consultations, guided family wellness activity in English & Spanish, three panel discussions with guests focused on immigrant resiliency, immigrants as essential workers, and honoring immigrant contributions. We will also be sharing resources for #DREAMERs and immigrant youth. AND we will be hosting a virtual art gallery which will highlight the work of immigrant artists.

How California can recover from wildfires without leaving its most vulnerable behind

9/11/20 “While people claim that disasters do not discriminate, there are human decisions that make some populations more vulnerable than others” said Michael Méndez, an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine, who co-authored the article. “The big picture is understanding that systemic racism and cultural norms determine who is a worthy disaster victim.”

How California’s farmworkers are banding together to survive the pandemic

9/24/20 A COVID-19 relief package for California’s farmworkers landed on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk last week. Legislators describe the bill as the first of its kind, and it addresses a wide array of issues, from workplace enforcement of COVID-19 guidance to the expansion of rural telehealth services across the state. But, as the novel coronavirus continues to tear through farmworker communities, such measures may not be enough.
Interviews with farmworkers throughout the state reveal a safety net stretched to the limit: Desperate parents are calling relief and advocacy groups for basic needs like diapers for their babies, quarantined farmworkers sick with COVID-19 are relying on colleagues for deliveries of food and other supplies, and some workers have lost their jobs after calling for better safety measures in the fields and packing plants where they work.

Archive – COVID-19 infections among Latinx seeing sharp decline in SCC

9/28/20 After data busted the myth that COVID-19 was “the great equalizer” and made it clear the disease has had disproportionate affects on Santa Clara County’s Latinx population, public health officials say rates finally are starting to decrease in the hardest hit communities.
“The rates among the Latinx community were really soaring in July. They were across the county but particularly steep in the Latinx community and to some extent in the African American community” said Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody. “We are now seeing the rates decline not just across the county but most steeply among the Latinx community.”

Returning Home After A Wildfire

8/28/20 Safety Tips from the CA DEPT of FORESTRY and FIRE PROTECTION – Once a wildfire has burned through an area, many dangers could remain. Firefighters and utility workers begin restoring fire damaged areas as soon as they can. Making the area safe for the public can take multiple days. Stay out of the evacuation area until fire officials tell you it is safe to return. It is extremely important to be aware of the hazards and know what to look for when the evacuation order is lifted.

San Jose legislator Zoe Lofgren pushes for immigration reforms amid COVID-19

9/25/20 Rep. Zoe Lofgren called for immigration reform this week during a congressional hearing examining the role of undocumented immigrants in the essential workforce.
The San Jose Democrat said essential workers, such as those working in agriculture or food processing, have risked their lives by continuing to work in-person throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“Many immigrant essential workers are undocumented and live under the constant threat of removal” she said. “Many others are protected by temporary programs, such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or the Temporary Protected Status, but they too live in fear as a result of the (Trump) administration’s efforts to terminate these programs. They deserve better.”

COVID-19 Guidelines for the General Public

As of April 6, 2022, close contacts in most settings who have been exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who are asymptomatic are no longer required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) masking guidance also strongly recommends wearing a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Tagalog |

San Jose leaders approve recommendations to address COVID-19 health disparities

9/2/20 San Jose leaders unanimously accepted 30 recommendations Sept. 1 from Santa Clara County’s Health and Equity Task Force to tackle growing health disparities in the time of COVID-19.
The recommendations include translating emergency information, contact-tracing, extending rent relief, distributing food and adding additional COVID-19 testing sites.
Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco said as of Aug. 31, more than 170 cases were reported in Santa Clara County, but many residents still don’t know where to get the services they need. Key Words: Equity

Coronavirus shutdowns are hitting Bay Area Vietnamese-owned nail salons hard

9/5/20 While most of the state’s businesses have been able to resume some activity, nail salons have remained largely closed under state and local health orders since the start of the pandemic. In most of the Bay Area, as well as Sacramento and Southern California, where cases remain widespread under the state’s new color-coded reopening system, nail salons are not yet allowed to reopen indoors. For many, outdoor operations aren’t an option.
About 70 percent of California’s nail salon workers are Vietnamese-American, according to a 2019 report, and the pandemic is taking a heavy toll on a small business niche that’s been shut for five months now. The report was released by the UCLA Labor Center and the nonprofit California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, which advocates for nail salons.

USCIS Wants To Increase the Amount of Biometric Data It Collects by Over 60%

9/9/20 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to dramatically expand the personal information that it collects in support of immigration petitions and applications. This new rule will increase the total number of people who are required to submit biometric data from 3.9 million currently to 6.07 million”an increase of more than 60%.
The proposed rule increases the pool of people who must provide biometrics to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by requiring biometrics from individuals of any age. This will further scrutinize children, and discourage victims of crime from being able to navigate the complex U.S. immigration system.

ICE Detention Management

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) manages and oversees the nation’s civil immigration detention system. ICE detainees placed in ERO custody represent virtually every country in the world, various security classifications, both genders and medical conditions ranging from healthy to terminally ill.
Key Words: Statistics, demographics

Medical Assistance Programs for Immigrants in Various States

7/21 Federally funded Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) is available to otherwise-eligible “qualified” immigrants who entered the U.S. before August 22, 1996, and those who have held a “qualified” status for five years or longer. Refugees and other “humanitarian” immigrants, veterans, active duty military and their spouses and children, and certain other immigrants can get Medicaid or CHIP without a five-year waiting period.
The table describes state policies for providing health coverage to additional groups of immigrants.

Archive – Disaster Relief and COVID-19 Related Assistance not Considered in Public Charge

8/20 Excerpts from the USCIS Public Charge link
….The Public Charge rule does not restrict access to testing, screening, or treatment of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. In addition, the rule does not restrict access to vaccines for children or adults to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases. Importantly, for purposes of a public charge inadmissibility determination,.
…..The rule does not include consideration of emergency medical assistance, disaster relief, national school lunch programs, foster care and adoption, student and mortgage loans, energy assistance, food pantries and homeless shelters and Head Start.Key Words: Immigrants

San Jose Rental Assistance Program

Program for qualified SJ residents who are behind on rental payments due to loss of income related to COVID-19. Financial assistance may cover expenses such as rental payments, utilities, and housing deposits from April 2020 through December 2020.
Financial assistance available through Catholic Charities. To apply please call:
Vietnamese: (408) 757-8044 and/or (408) 757-6661.
Spanish: (408) 757-7703 and/or (408) 757-7591.
All other languages and general inquiries: (408) 758-0011.
Applications will be accepted through a lottery system.
For more information about eligibility, please call the rental assistance program at (408) 758-0011
Multi-lingual: Spanish, Vietnamese

Online Traffic Fine Reduction Request

8/15/20 If you have a financial hardship and can show that you are unable to pay the full amount for your traffic ticket, you may request the court to consider your ability to pay. The Judicial Council and eight California Superior Courts are working together to develop a new online option for people struggling with traffic court debt. The “MyCitations” tool allows people to look up their traffic citation, answer a series of simple questions and submit a request to the court for a possible reduction in the amount owed. Users can also request a payment plan, more time to pay or community service.
Spanish

COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations

On December 15, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to adopt non-emergency COVID-19 prevention regulations. These regulations took effect on February 3, 2023 and will remain in effect for two years after the effective date, except for the recordkeeping subsections that will remain in effect for three years.
These regulations include some of the same requirements found in the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), as well as new provisions aimed at making it easier for employers to provide consistent protections to workers and allow for flexibility if changes are made to guidance in the future from the California Department of Public Health.

Archive – Follow up – USCIS Upends the Lives of Immigrants by Refusing to Print Their Work Permits and Green Cards

8/3/20 On August 3, 2020, a federal court in Ohio granted a temporary restraining order requiring USCIS to print a work permit within 7 days for all individuals who had been approved for one.
The USCIS recently cut production of these documents after its contract ended with a third-party printing company. Reports indicate that 50,000 green cards and 75,000 work permits have not been printed. The agency said it planned to manage the production of these documents in-house, but that its ability to do so is limited due to budgetary constraints. Key Words: Employment

NIH All of Us Research Program

The All of Us Research Program is inviting one million people across the U.S. to help build one of the most diverse health databases in history. We welcome participants from all backgrounds. Researchers will use the data to learn how our biology, lifestyle, and environment affect health. This could help them develop better treatments and ways to prevent different diseases. The mission of the All of Us Research Program is to accelerate health research and medical breakthroughs, enabling individualized prevention, treatment, and care for all of us.

SCC Mental Health Guide for Immigrants.

The Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR), in partnership with the SCC Behavioral Health Services, have developed a mental health guide for immigrants. This brochure includes guidance on:
Where to get mental health services in Santa Clara County
Tips on what to do if you are worried about a loved one suffering from a mental health illness
Additional immigrant resources
Multi-language:
English |
Spanish |
Vietnamese |

Discount Clipper START Card

Save on San Francisco Bay Area transit. with a pilot program to provide single-ride discounts to eligible riders. Participants can receive: a 50% discount on Caltrain, Muni, and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry, and a 20% discount on BART,
To qualify, you must…**Be a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area **Be 19-64 years old **Not have an RTC Clipper Card for people with disabilities **Have a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less. Multi-language: , ,
Spanish |
Chinese |
Tagalog |

SCC Community Resources for Youth, Families and Individuals Impacted by COVID-19

Santa Clara County Directory – Many services are available to all members of our community, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.
If you, a family member or someone you know has been impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and need food assistance, health services, financial help, legal assistance or other support services, here are some available resources that can help.

Silicon Valley lawmaker examines links between racism, the environment and COVID-19

7/17/20 During a committee hearing this week, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose said the coronavirus pandemic has clearly exposed systemic racism in the United States.
“It didn’t create it, but it revealed the divisions” she said. “We have an opportunity now to examine the broad scope of that and to come up with a path forward for change.”
The congresswoman was speaking at a virtual hearing to discuss the links between racism, environmental hazards and the coronavirus pandemic. Key Words: Equity

Judge rules ICE must allow detainees free, private calls with attorneys during pandemic

4/11/20 A federal judge ruled Saturday that immigration enforcement officials must allow confidential telephone calls between detainees at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and their attorneys in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
The 15-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must reverse a policy that critics said made it virtually impossible for detainees and their attorneys to confer in private at the facility, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County.
Bernal wrote that the agency must provide “free, reasonably private legal calls on unrecorded and unmonitored telephone lines, and must devise a reliable procedure for attorneys as well as detainees to schedule those calls within 24 hours of a request.” Key Words: Detention, KYR, Know Your Rights

Conscious & Unconscious Biases in Health Care

Although many underlying causes contribute to health care disparities, the IOM concluded that bias, stereotyping, prejudice, and clinical uncertainty on the part of health care providers may be major contributing factors.8 New evidence has shed light on the following: the dynamics of conscious and unconscious biases; the effects of bias on patients and providers; and the correlation between bias, differential treatment, and disparities in the health status and outcomes for specific racial, ethnic, and other cultural groups. Key Words: Training, Cultural Competency

San Jose takes pride in its diversity but has no in-house translators

7/23/20 With more than half the households in San Jose speaking a language other than English, the nation’s 10th largest city doesn’t have full-time staff dedicated to translation and interpretation at City Hall.
Without full-time translators on staff, San Jose Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco, whose constituents include many monolingual Spanish speakers, has come to expect her own bilingual-certified team to fill the void.

Listos California

The Listos California Emergency Preparedness Campaign is an effort based on an investment of public funds by Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers, to ready our most vulnerable populations for disasters like wildfires, earthquakes and floods, and now public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. before disasters strike. Anchored at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES).
Multi-language: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Korean

The Impact of COVID-19 on Noncitizens and Across the U.S. Immigration System

5/20 This report from the American Immigration Council, seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of COVID-19-related disruptions throughout the immigration system and identifies recommendations for adjustments and improvements to the federal response. Given that the landscape of immigration policy is changing rapidly in the face of the pandemic, this report will be updated as needed. Key Words: Coronavirus, detention, deportation,

Santa Clara County Extra Help Vote Center Staff

Most Vote Center Staff will be working multiple days and therefore will need to be hired as Santa Clara County Extra Help employees. Applicants should be U.S. Citizens and registered voters or Legal Permanent Residents and at least 18 years of age. All Extra Help Vote Center Staff must successfully complete paid multiday training classes starting in early September. Work dates range from late October to November 4, 2020. Follow the appropriate link below to apply online, once your application is approved and referred to our office, we will contact you to schedule training classes and vote center assignment. Key Words: Employment, jobs, SCC