May 2026 FLPIR Newsletter
On March 24, Berkeley residents and advocates packed City Council chambers to oppose a new contract with Flock surveillance that would put our immigrant community members at increased risk. In a marathon session, residents voiced their concerns until 1:30 a.m. – so long that it delayed the vote. The final vote has been rescheduled for a special session on May 7 at 5:00 p.m. at 1231 Addison Street in Berkeley.
There is still time to make an impact. Here's how you can help:
Sign and share the letter campaigns for the City Council and specifically for District 6 and District 8.
Join phone-banking and canvassing efforts happening in the next couple of weeks. Email ncac@indivisible-berkeley.org to get involved.
Attend the May 7 meeting and voice your opposition to Flock surveillance.
Visit the Indivisible Berkeley webpage to learn more about why this contract threatens the safety and privacy of Berkeley residents.
Upcoming events, trainings, workshops:
ACILEP Know Your Rights Virtual Workshop
Wednesday, May 6, 5:30 p.m., online
Join attorneys from Alameda County Immigration Legal Education Partnership (ACILEP) for a free virtual Know Your Rights workshop. This training will help you understand your risk of being arrested by ICE, make a plan to follow in case of an arrest in your family or community, and understand the current situation regarding ICE activity in our county.
Art Without Borders, an art sale benefitting immigrant families
Sunday, May 31, 2:00-5:00 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA.
Join us for this amazing, one-of-a-kind event. Original artwork from over 100 award-winning, established, and emerging artists will be sold at special accessible prices from $15 to $200, with all proceeds going to the Multicultural Institute, an immigrant advocacy and support organization. Artworks include diverse forms of printmaking, photography, collage, drawings, and paintings on paper. The event will feature live music from David Shakiban and Friends and refreshments.
Panel Discussion: Disappeared in Detention
Sunday, June 14, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m, La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA .
Join us for a deep dive into the complex topic of immigration detention with expert panelists who will share up-to-date information from a legal and activist perspective. Visit our action tables during the break to take some immediate steps to fight back and support our neighbors and loved ones to stop the deportation machine.
Speakers will include Natalia V Santanna, Esq., founder of Santanna Law Offices, PC; Stacy Suh, program director at Detention Watch Network; Rev. Canon Anna Carmichael, Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin Detention Ministry; Jose R., former detainee, SJRAISE; and others.
Take action: Upcoming opportunities
Request a “Know Your Rights in Healthcare” workshop
Do you work in healthcare? Would you like a “Know Your Rights in Healthcare” presentation at your work location? We can provide a one-hour training for your staff and colleagues to assist you in protecting the rights of immigrant patients and clients and providing increased safety when they come for their appointments or health services.
Contact us at FLPimmigrationrights@gmail.com.
Assist immigrants with Habeas Corpus
Volunteers are also needed to join a pro bono Habeas Corpus team of lawyers, paralegals, translators, intake interviewers and people with tech skills (who convert courtroom audio files to text) who together prepare and file legal pleadings in federal court to seek the release of detained immigrants. No immigration law experience is required. Lawyers can be practicing or retired. Volunteers with no paralegal experience can be trained. Intake interviewers and translators should have Spanish proficiency to communicate with most detainees and their relatives. Mentorship for all volunteers is provided as needed. All work is done online, so volunteers can live anywhere.
Due to the time and training that goes into preparing volunteers, please only sign up if you have serious interest.
More ways to get involved:
For more information, go to FLPIR.org
Give out Know Your Rights cards
Observe court proceedings Court Watch
Help with Asylum Applications (Spanish fluency required)
Adopt a Corner
Help with events
Thank You La Peña Community Chorus!
Thank you to the La Peña Community Chorus for an inspiring evening of music and resistance. The standing-room only concert raised over $3,000 for FLPIR to continue our work of defending immigrant rights! Thanks to the Chorus, La Peña Cultural Center, all the volunteers who helped organize the event, and everyone who attended for helping make this such a successful event!
April 2026 FLPIR Newsletter
On March 28, FLPIR volunteers joined millions of people across the US to say “No War With Iran, No ICE, and No Kings!” We need to continue to oppose the Trump/MAGA agenda in every way that we can. On May 1, we will join the May Day Strong “No Kings, No Billionaires!” campaign by not going to work or school or shopping (see below).
Meanwhile, we will continue organizing locally to defend our immigrant neighbors and oppose Trump’s cruel immigration policies. Last year, 32 people died in DHS custody – the most in over 2 decades. So far this year, at least 11 people have died in ICE custody. Thousands of people have been deported or are being held in ICE detention centers and thousands of families have been separated due to Trump’s cruel and unjust immigration policies.
This newsletter contains many ways you can join in the struggle for justice for immigrants – from city hall and courthouse vigils to music and arts events, and of course, the many ways you can volunteer!
Thanks for your support! Gracias por tu apoyo!
La Peña Community Chorus Presents: ¡SIN FRONTERAS!
A Benefit Concert for Friends of La Peña Immigrant Rights
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.
La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, CA
Call to artists: Donate your work to support immigrant families
Deadline to respond: April 17
FLPIR is sponsoring a one-day print, collage, and photography exhibition and sale to raise money for the Multicultural Institute, an immigrant advocacy and support organization in Berkeley. The event will include a reception and live music.
We are inviting artists to donate works to be included in this show. 100% of the proceeds of works sold will be donated to the Multicultural Institute. The deadline to respond is April 17. For more details about this exhibition and how to submit works, please contact lisa@lisakokin.com.
Stand together: Collective Actions
Keep ICE OUT of Dublin
Oppose the immigration center at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Vote
Tuesday, April 7, 1-3 p.m.
1221 Oak Street, 5th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
The fight to permanently shut down the federal prison in Dublin continues. So far, the sustained community pressure has prevented the reopening of FCI Dublin as an immigration detention center thus far, and we need your continued support.
On Tuesday, April 7 at 1 p.m., the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will vote on a resolution to oppose the reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE detention center or other correctional facility.The resolution is co-sponsored by Supervisors David Haubert and Elisa Marquez.
Please take action:
Attend the Board of Supervisors meeting in-person or online. See our toolkit here for guidelines on public comment.
Not able to attend? Submit written comments via email by Monday, April 6, 3 p.m..
Sign up here with the ICE out of Dublin Coalition so we know that you are participating!
If you have questions about public comment, please email Marla Kamiya at mrlakam@gmail.com or Amanda Berger at ajberger84@gmail.com.
Stop Flock Surveillance in Alameda County
Oppose Flock contract expansion at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Tuesday, April 21, 3 p.m.
1221 Oak St # 536, Oakland, CA 94612
On April 21, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will resume deliberations on a $854,200 contract extension with Flock. The County just voted to strengthen its sanctuary policy with ICE-Free Zones, voting “yes” on this contract would completely contradict its reasoning as ICE digs into Flock cameras to kidnap undocumented neighbors. Contact the District Supervisors before April 21 and show up online and in-person at the Board of Supervisors meeting; tell them to vote NO on the Flock contract. Find the Supervisor's contact info here.
May Day Strong: No work. No school. No shopping.
Friday, May 1
This May 1st, we will be flexing our collective muscle in a tremendous day of people power – showing our unity and strength through a day of no work, no school, no shopping.
Get Involved: Volunteer today
Support Immigrants with Asylum, Pretermission Responses, and Habeas Corpus
There is a critical need for bilingual volunteers to assist with helping asylum seekers in completing their asylum applications and pretermission forms. Volunteers must be proficient in English and another language, Spanish being in the highest demand.
Volunteers are also needed to join a pro bono Habeas Corpus team of lawyers, paralegals and intake interviewers who prepare and file legal pleadings in federal court to seek the release of detained immigrants. No immigration law experience is required. Lawyers can be practicing or retired. Volunteers with no paralegal experience can be trained. Intake interviewers should have Spanish proficiency to communicate with most detainees and their relatives. Mentorship for all volunteers is provided as needed. All work is done online, so volunteers can live anywhere.
Due to the time and training that goes into preparing volunteers, please only sign up if you have serious interest.
Stand in solidarity at Interfaith Immigration Court Vigils
Help create a sacred space and corridor of community welcome outside ICE immigration courts in SF and Concord which have become sites of danger and fear for immigrants accessing due process. Sponsored by Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI).
Observe Immigration Court Proceedings with SF Court Watch
Observe hearings to help assure due process rights in the courtroom are respected. A minimum commitment of 4 daytime hours, once per month is required.
To sign up and receive training, email immcourt@gmail.com.
Join the North Star Network
Become a counselor in training for immigrants seeking to go to Canada through the North Star Network. Weekly trainings & mentoring are offered by immigration lawyers and Quaker counselors. For more information, contact: CollaborativeAction@proton.me
More volunteer opportunities
For more information, go to FLPIR.org.
Adopt a Day-Laborer Corner
Give out red “Know Your Rights” cards & yellow “Rapid Response Network” cards
Support Local Businesses: Canvass with KYR Toolkit
Mid March 2026 FLPIR Newsletter
Immigrant Rights Sundays: Know Your Rights Now Workshop
Things have been changing so fast on the ground, it's time for a new Know Your Rights Now Workshop. We've gathered our experts to tell you what's happening now: How is ICE operating? What did we learn from Minnesota? What can you do to safely support immigrants?
We are very fortunate to have Marisa Almor as our presenter for this event. Marisa has given dozens of workshops in the Bay Area, training thousands of immigrants and allies on how to protect our community.
The workshop will be held on March 22, from 2 - 4 p.m. at La Pena Cultural Center. See you there!
Show up:
Upcoming events and marches
Oakland No Kings March
Saturday, March 28, 1- 3 p.m.
Sign up to support the march as a Indivisible East Bay volunteer.
San Francisco No Kings March
Saturday, March 28
11:30 a.m.: Gather at Embarcadero Plaza – Bring flags, wear costumes, make noise!
12 p.m.: March to Civic Center Plaza
2 p.m.: Rally at Civic Center Plaza and tabling fair at neighboring Fulton Plaza
La Peña Community Chorus Presents: ¡SIN FRONTERAS!
A Benefit Concert for Friends of La Peña Immigrant Rights
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.
La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, CA
Art Without Borders: Supporting Immigrant Families Through Art
May 31, 2:00 - 5:00 pm. La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, CA
Invitation to Artists: FLPIR is sponsoring a one-day print, collage, and photography exhibition and sale to raise money for the Multicultural Institute, an immigrant advocacy and support organization in Berkeley. The event will include a reception and live music. We are inviting artists to donate works to be included in this show. 100% of the proceeds of works sold will be donated to the Multicultural Institute. The deadline to respond is April 17.
For more details about this exhibition and how to submit works, please contact lisa@lisakokin.com. For more information about the Multicultural Institute, go to www.mionline.org.
Get involved: Ongoing actions
Time sensitive: Say NO to Flock surveillance in Berkeley
Tell our city council members that we oppose expanding the Flock contract and want them to prioritize community trust, civil liberties, and compliance with California’s privacy protections. Flock’s poor track record with data privacy has allowed ICE to access local data to target immigrants.
Contact your city council representative before the vote on March 24. DISTRICTS 1, 5, and 6 ARE HIGH PRIORITY because these council members are on the Public Safety subcommittee.
Look up your representative and find phone and email scripts at Indivisible East Bay.
Volunteer
Here are some of the ways you can volunteer:
Volunteer to Support Immigrants with Asylum, Pretermission Responses, and Habeas Corpus
Give out red “Know Your Rights” cards & yellow “Rapid Response Network” cards
Adopt a Day-Laborer Corner
Support Local Businesses: Canvass with KYR Toolkit
Observe Immigration Court Proceedings with SF Court Watch
Observe hearings to help assure due process rights in the courtroom are respected. A minimum commitment of 4 daytime hours, once per month is required.
To sign up and receive training, email immcourt@gmail.com.
Join the North Star Network
Become a counselor in training for immigrants seeking to go to Canada through the North Star Network. Weekly trainings & mentoring are offered by immigration lawyers and Quaker counselors.
For more information, contact: CollaborativeAction@proton.me