photo credit: Courtesy of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed about a dozen immigration-related executive orders, sparking anxiety in immigrant communities.

"Every single day we're having conversations with people who are really stressed out, not sleeping, working on signing papers in case they get arrested and deported for someone else to take care of their children," said Cara Jobson, a Bay Area immigration attorney.

California has around 2 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom work in agriculture, one of the largest industries in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

Although neither has been designated an official sanctuary county, they fall under the jurisdiction of California’s sanctuary law, making the state a haven for millions of immigrants without legal status.

California enacted its sanctuary law in 2017 when Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California Values Act. The law has limited local police and certain public entities, such as schools, medical facilities and courthouses, from coordinating with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on deportations.

However, the law does not regulate federal officials' actions within the state, as federal law overrides state law under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. This allows ICE officials to continue deporting individuals, even if state law prohibits local officials from cooperating with federal agents.

Trump’s executive orders to increase deportation efforts has heightened anxiety within immigrant communities.

"The mental health factor is very, very real right now," Jobson said.

Jobson emphasized the importance of knowing one’s rights when encountering ICE officials. Jobson pointed to resources like "red cards," which outlines constitutional rights and can be presented to an ICE officer. These cards are available for download on websites such as the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Catholic Charities of Northern California.

"A man named Mark Silverman had the idea to have something that someone could have in their hand, because in the moment it can be confusing, it can be frightening, and to have something tangible they could present to an ICE officer," Jobson said. "They pull out this red card, they hand it to the agent and then they remain quiet."

For immigrants with legal status or U.S. citizenship, Jobson stated that it’s important to carry both a green card and a red card at all times.

"Part of it is a personal and political decision on behalf of that person, what stance they want to take," she said. "But if their question is how can this be as easy and smooth as possible, probably show the green card because that means they have the right to live permanently in the United States. If they're completely undocumented, they don't have anything else to show but the red card."

Jobson advises clients to stay calm and not open the door if ICE agents arrive at their homes. ICE cannot enter a home without a valid warrant signed by a judge. She recommends asking agents to slide the warrant under the door or hold it up to a window to verify its legitimacy.

She also encourages individuals to remain silent if they are uncomfortable with the line of questioning. Everyone has the right to refuse to answer questions about immigration status. Jobson notes that individuals can simply state, "I do not wish to speak with you."

Resources available in Mendocino County include the Raise & Shine Family Resource Center in Ukiah, which helps immigrants with paperwork and legal support.

UVA Vecinos En Acción, a Latino outreach organization in Ukiah, assists immigrants in finding jobs, housing and healthcare resources.

In Sonoma County, California Human Development, a nonprofit based in Santa Rosa, helps with visa applications and immigration resources. Legal Aid of Sonoma County also provides similar services.

Sydney Fishman is a UC Berkeley California Local News Fellow and KRCB News freelance contributor.