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!