Back into the shadows: immigrants retreat from needed services as deportation fears loom

Fear of deportation has always been a barrier to immigrants approaching law enforcement, especially those who are undocumented. Compounding the issue, domestic and sexual violence are chronically underreported from all demographics. But in recent months, that fear has multiplied to a new degree because of President Donald Trump’s pledges throughout the campaign and since taking office to crack down on illegal immigration and build a border wall with Mexico.

Immigrants have retreated not just from law enforcement, but from services of all kinds. Parents are afraid to send their children to school in case they’re taken in an ICE raid during the day and their children have no one to return to. Others fear using medical services — clinics note that some patients with chronic illnesses have stopped showing up for treatment. Even legal immigrants are afraid. In some areas, they’ve unenrolled from CalFresh, government food benefits only available to legal residents.

And, many immigrant women across Northern California are too afraid to file for restraining orders, report abuse, or seek U visas — predominately for victims of domestic and sexual violence — which require working with law enforcement.