
When ICE strikes, Santa Ana's grocery heroes roll out: Undocumented community gets volunteers for help
Santa Ana
, California, a quiet but powerful movement is unfolding as volunteers mobilize to support undocumented families paralyzed by fear of immigration enforcement. What began as a small, neighborhood effort in the city's Delhi area has rapidly expanded into a citywide network, providing essential services like grocery shopping and rides to appointments for families too afraid to leave their homes.
Recent federal
immigration sweeps
have sent shockwaves through Orange County's large immigrant community. Santa Ana, where nearly half the population is foreign-born and about 102,000 residents are non-U.S. citizens, has become an epicenter of anxiety. Reports indicate that many undocumented residents are staying home from work and relying on citizen relatives or volunteers for basic necessities, fearing encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
One volunteer, who goes by Cuauhtli, described how her involvement began with her child's grandmother, who was too afraid to leave the house. 'That's when I knew, 'Oh my God, there must be more people afraid to leave their homes,'' she told NBC. Cuauhtli now delivers groceries to families she's never met, fulfilling simple requests for staples like beans, fruit, and rice. 'I see a need and I just feel a sense of urgency to fill it,' she said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You)
Unsold Furniture | Search Ads
Learn More
Undo
A surge in requests
In just one week, the volunteer group received a flood of requests for help, ranging from food deliveries to rides for medical appointments. The effort quickly outgrew its original neighborhood focus, with more than 200 people stepping up to offer time and donations. 'People think that going out and
protesting
is the only type of action you can take, but you can support the undocumented community in many ways,' Cuauhtli emphasized.
The support network is not limited to food and transportation. Local organizations like the
Orange County Rapid Response Network
and Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development are coordinating mutual aid and legal support, aiming to reassure residents that they are not alone.
Live Events
Wider support infrastructure: Legal and social services
Santa Ana's city government and nonprofit partners have also responded to the crisis. The city's Immigration
Legal Defense Fund
provides legal assistance to low-income immigrants facing deportation, operating under a universal representation model to ensure publicly funded defense for all, regardless of status.
Community-based organizations, such as Building Healthy Communities and Immigrant Defenders Law Center, work in tandem with volunteers to make legal and social services accessible.
Other groups, like
Voice of Refugees
and Catholic Charities of Orange County, offer a spectrum of support, from food deliveries and ESL classes to help with citizenship applications and employment assistance. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs coordinates these efforts, connecting families with food banks, legal aid, and financial support.
Data and the scale of need
Santa Ana's immigrant population: Approximately 153,900 immigrants, 46% of the city's population; about 102,000 are non-U.S. citizens.
Four out of five children in Santa Ana have at least one immigrant parent, with most of these children being U.S. citizens.
Over 200 volunteers have joined the grassroots grocery and errand delivery network in just one week.
Local organizations report a surge in requests for help, as families avoid public spaces and essential errands due to fear of ICE activity.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Venezuelan little league team blocked from US tournament by Donald Trump's travel ban
Venezuelan little league team blocked from US tournament by Donald Trump's travel ban (Image via Getty) The Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, will miss the 2024 Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina. The team was denied US visas just days before the tournament starts on July 27. These young players had earned their spot by winning the Latin American championship, but now their dreams are crushed. The reason? A travel ban linked to US President Donald Trump's immigration policy. Donald Trump blocked Venezuelan team from US tournament just days before it begins The Cacique Mara Little League baseball team from Maracaibo, Venezuela won't be allowed to participate in the 2024 Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina. The contest kicks off Saturday, July 27. Why? The players were turned down visas to visit the United States. Little League International said on Friday that the team's visa application was turned down. Having won the Latin American title in Mexico and qualified to represent the region at the global competition, the young players, ages 13 and 16, They are, however, compelled to hang back now. They had traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, two weeks ago to apply for their US visas. But all their hopes ended when they were told the paperwork wouldn't go through. The team shared a statement, saying: 'It is a mockery to keep us in Bogotá with hope. What do we do with the pain caused to our children?' Donald Trump's travel ban stops young Venezuelan athletes from playing in US The team's visa denial is part of a larger issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your donations can help this little boy see again clearly Donate For Health Donate Now Undo US President Donald Trump has reintroduced a travel ban that blocks people from 13 countries from entering the United States. Venezuela is one of them. Trump claims these bans are necessary for national security. Kendrick Gutiérrez, president of the Venezuelan Little League, said on Friday, 'They told us Venezuela is on a list because Trump says we are a threat. But these are children. They earned their place by winning.' The White House said in June that athletes traveling for major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup would be allowed under special rules. But it seems youth baseball is not included. Also Read: Jannik Sinner Coaching Rumors Spark Drama As Brad Gilbert Slams 'Fake News' Before US Open 2025 Last week, the Cuban women's volleyball team also couldn't travel to Puerto Rico for their tournament due to visa issues. That decision also sparked outrage. In place of the Venezuelan team, the Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico, will now join the Senior League World Series. They were runners-up at the Latin American championship. Gutiérrez added, 'We don't understand why Venezuela was dropped and Mexico added. This is the first time something like this has happened. It's not fair to the children.' Little League International called the visa denial 'extremely disappointing,' especially for the young players who had worked so hard to reach this stage. FAQs 1. Why was the Venezuelan Little League team denied US visas? The team was denied visas due to Donald Trump's renewed travel ban on Venezuela. 2. Which country replaced Venezuela in the Senior League Baseball World Series 2024? Mexico's Santa Maria de Aguayo team replaced Venezuela in the tournament. 3. Is Venezuela included in Donald Trump's travel ban list? Yes, Venezuela is one of the countries affected by Trump's travel restrictions. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!


Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Punjab education: Minister Harjot Bains holds 'dialogue with teachers' in Sangrur; highlights Rs 400 cr lab overhaul, foreign training
School education minister S Harjot Singh Bains NEW DELHI: School education minister S Harjot Singh Bains on Friday conducted a 'dialogue with teachers' session at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in Sangrur. The initiative was aimed at collecting direct feedback and practical suggestions from educators to address infrastructure needs and improve learning outcomes in government schools across Punjab. During the interaction, Bains engaged with school heads from the Sangrur district, discussing the state's current education initiatives. He stressed the need for outcome-driven reforms rather than symbolic measures and assured that teachers' concerns would be taken into account in future policy decisions. Bains highlighted plans to upgrade computer labs with an investment of Rs 400 crore and announced the installation of interactive panels in schools. He also mentioned that a third batch of teachers would be sent for training abroad, with selections based on merit. Other updates included lecturer promotions, the appointment of 400 new principals, and upgrades to basic infrastructure such as seating and sanitation. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Referring to the state's recent performance in the national achievement survey (NAS) 2024, the minister noted that Punjab had shown improvement in educational indicators. He added that 845 government school students qualified for the NEET exam this year, while 265 cleared JEE Mains. Bains said initiatives like 'school of eminence,' 'school of happiness,' and 'school of brilliance' have been introduced with the goal of improving the quality of education in state-run schools. He also pointed to the ongoing teacher training programs by the Aam Aadmi Party being conducted in institutions based in Singapore, Finland, and Ahmedabad as part of efforts to modernise the teaching framework. Describing the 'dialogue with teachers' platform, Bains said the aim is to encourage two-way communication between the education department and teaching staff to better inform future reforms.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Trump says Japan will invest $550 billion in US at his direction. It may not be a sure thing
President Donald Trump is bragging that Japan has given him, as part of a new trade framework, $550 billion to invest in the United States. It's an astonishing figure, but still subject to negotiation and perhaps not the sure thing he's portraying. "Japan is putting up $550 billion in order to lower their tariffs a little bit," Trump said Thursday. "They put up, as you could call it, seed money. Let's call it seed money." Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MBA Product Management MCA Cybersecurity healthcare Artificial Intelligence CXO Public Policy Finance Technology Operations Management Healthcare PGDM Others Project Management Design Thinking Degree Management Digital Marketing Data Science Data Science Data Analytics others Leadership Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details He said 90% of any profits from the money invested would go to the U.S. even if Japan had put up the funds. "It's not a loan or anything, it's a signing bonus," the Republican president said, on the trade framework that lowered his threatened tariff from 25% to 15%, including on autos. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Solar Panels Prices Might Surprise You Affordable Solar Panel | Search Ads Search Now Undo A White House official said the terms are being negotiated and nothing has been formalized in writing. The official, who insisted on anonymity to detail the terms of the talks, suggested the goal was for the $550 billion fund to make investments at Trump's direction. The sum is significant: It would represent more than 10% of Japan's entire gross domestic product . The Japan External Trade Organization estimates that direct investment into the U.S. economy topped $780 billion in 2023. It is unclear the degree to which the $550 billion could represent new investment or flow into existing investment plans. Live Events What the trade framework announced Tuesday has achieved is a major talking point for the Trump administration. The president has claimed to have brought trillions of dollars in new investment into the U.S., though the impact of those commitments have yet to appear in the economic data for jobs, construction spending or manufacturing output. The framework also enabled Trump to say other countries are agreeing to have their goods taxed, even if some of the cost of those taxes are ultimately passed along to U.S. consumers. On the $550 billion, Japan's Cabinet Office said it involves the credit facility of state-affiliated financial institutions, such as Japan Bank for International Cooperation . Further details would be decided based on the progress of the investment deals. Japanese trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, upon returning to Japan, did not discuss the terms of the $550 billion investment. Akazawa said he believes a written joint statement is necessary, at least on working levels, to avoid differences. He is not thinking about a legally binding trade pact. The U.S. apparently released its version of the deal while Japanese officials were on their return flight home. "If we find differences of understanding, we may have to point them out and say 'that's not what we discussed,'" Akazawa said. The U.S. administration said the fund would be invested in critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, computer chips and shipbuilding, among other industries. It has said Japan will also buy 100 airplanes from Boeing and rice from U.S. farmers as part of the framework, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said would be evaluated every three months. "And if the president is unhappy, then they will boomerang back to the 25% tariff rates, both on cars and the rest of their products. And I can tell you that I think at 25, especially in cars, the Japanese economy doesn't work," Bessent told Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle." Akazawa denied that Bessent's quarterly review was part of the negotiations. "In my past eight trips to the United States during which I held talks with the president and the ministers," Akazawa said. "I have no recollection of discussing how we ensure the implementation of the latest agreement between Japan and the United States." He said it would cause major disruptions to the economy and administrative processes if the rates first rise to 25% as scheduled on Aug. 1 and then drop to 15%. "We definitely want to avoid that and I believe that is the understanding shared by the U.S. side," he said. On buying U.S. rice, Japanese officials have said they have no plans to raise the current 770,000-ton "minimum access" cap to import more from America. Agricultural Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan will decide whether to increase U.S. rice imports and that Japan is not committed to a fixed quota. Trump's commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, has suggested that the Japanese agreement is putting pressure on other countries such as South Korea to strike deals with the U.S. Trump, who is traveling in Scotland, plans to meet on Sundayv with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade. "Whatever Donald Trump wants to build, the Japanese will finance it for him," Lutnick said Thursday on CNBC. "Pretty amazing."