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By Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc & UCP California Collaboration
In a recent interview, President-Elect Donald Trump discussed how his anticipated policy proposal of mass deportation would separate families. This would likely include separating parents from their children with developmental disabilities. If the policy of “public charge” from Trump’s first term is an indicator, people with disabilities may actually be targeted for deportation. The Arc of California’s sole mission is to promote and protect the human rights of people with developmental disabilities and to support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes, which includes protecting the support provided by the individual’s parent or caregiver. The Arc of California’s mission does not discriminate against a person’s citizenship or immigration status. Therefore, in preparation for proposals promised by the incoming federal administration, The Arc of California has compiled several resources to support families that may be impacted:
- Immigration Webinar: Register for the El Arc de California webinar on immigration for Spanish-speaking individuals and families (on December 17, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. (PST). The webinar will be conducted in Spanish with ASL and English interpretation. Click HERE to register.
- Red Cards: All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. We encourage all regional centers, disability service providers, and other disability groups and organizations to order the free Red Card from the ILRC and deliver the cards to families that may be impacted. The cards and shipping are completely free. Please use the order form here to place your Red Card order.
- Make Informed Decisions: As a result of the policy of Public Charge during Trump’s first term, we know that many families were afraid to continue receiving publicly funded services such as early intervention services for infants with developmental delays or therapies for children with complex medical conditions. These are difficult risks for a family to weigh and challenging decisions to make. We want to make sure you have the resources to make informed decisions.
Regional centers will not collect social security information from parents. They are only required to collect the birthday and disability status of the parents.
The State Bar of California provides a list of organizations that provide free legal aid to Californians whose income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The list of organizations can be found here. The organizations with “immigrant” or “immigration” in their name are organizations likely able to assist families with questions regarding immigration.
Please know that all of us at The Arc of California are doing everything we can to educate, inform and empower individuals with disabilities, their families and the workforce about any changes to policies or funding that may impact lives. We are committed to protecting and preserving the human and civil rights of Californians in the disability community.