COFEM to host free webinar on ICE encounter preparedness for Coachella Valley families
Tori King
COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ)—The city of Coachella is partnering with COFEM for a free Family Preparedness Webinar. The organization says families can “Learn how to protect your family in times of uncertainty, from creating a safety plan to knowing your rights during an ICE encounter.”
“Who would be the person that would care for your children, your finances, your bank accounts,” said Claudia Armenta, the Immigration Integration Program Assistant for COFEM. “We’re going to teach you all of that in this meeting. We’re also doing this online because of the current political climate. We want to be able to reach more community members and that they’re able to join and share this information without fear of their own safety.”
The organization says now more than ever, informational sessions like this one are needed, especially in the Coachella Valley, which houses three sanctuary cities and has a very large Latino and immigrant populations.
“We’re encouraging the community to show up because we don’t want to wait for the last minute in case there is an emergency,” said Armenta. “Often times we see families didn’t prepare and they are struggling to try to have all these documents ready. When you have kids, you prepare documents for them to go to school, go to the doctor. This is also an an educational workshop on preparing to make sure you have all your documents ready for your children in case of an encounter.”
The valley and surrounding desert cities also have an agriculture-driven economy, with lots of families who are farmworkers.
“In this area, the eastern Coachella Valley, we have the packing companies, the agriculture companies,” said Armenta. “These past few months, we know that in the Coachella Valley, we have been impacted.”
The event will take place July 19th from10 a.m. to noon. For more information you can call 213-417-8390. Organizers ask that people interested in watching the webinar register here.