Alameda Labor Council offers free rights workshops for immigrants, refugees

OAKLAND, California–With the number of crackdowns on immigrant communities expected to dramatically increase under the Trump administration, a daylong workshop on immigrant and refugee rights will be held on Saturday, March 11, Saturday.

The sessions will be at the Fruitvale San Antonio Senior Center at 3301 E. 12th Street, Suite 201 in Oakland. The morning session begins at 10 a.m. The afternoon schedule begins at 1 p.m.

The Alameda Labor Council-AFL-CIO and its member-unions, elected officials, community and immigrant rights advocates are hosting the workshop, which is FREE of charge.

The workshops and informational material will be in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Light refreshments will be served.

“Attendees will learn how to prepare themselves for the expected raids by agents of the Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on immigrant communities at homes, schools, workplaces and even on the streets to search for, arrest, and deport undocumented immigrants,” said Noel Gallo, Oakland City Council Member for District 5 where the workshops will be held.

“We want our immigrant and refugee residents know that this is their home and they belong here,” Gallo added.

The 2015 U.S.Census reports that Alameda County has one of the highest percentages of immigrants among all California counties.  More than 30 percent of California’s total population is foreign-born.

“Immigrants have contributed in so many ways to making our communities and our nation what they are today. Up to 27 percent of Oakland’s population is foreign born, and of that, 31 percent are born in Mexico,” explained Josie Camacho, executive secretary of the Alameda Labor Council.

“California’s economy depends heavily on immigrant labor. One in every 10 workers in California is an undocumented immigrant contributing $130 billion annually to California’s gross domestic product,” Camacho added.

For more information, call (510) 632-4242, extension 106.