Immigration enforcement actions have significant impacts on families, often leading to financial instability, housing crises, childcare disruptions and legal uncertainties.
In response, Community Bridges has introduced Puentes Para Familias, an Emergency Family Aid Fund offering up to $2,500 per household to help families manage urgent needs while planning for the future. The fund is supported by seed funding from Sunlight Giving.
The program aims to provide immediate relief for critical expenses, such as bond support, rent and utility payments, childcare, transportation and legal costs. While the amount offers crucial assistance, actual expenses like immigration bonds often far exceed this amount, posing ongoing challenges for affected families.
“The detention of a parent or caregiver creates havoc for the entire family. Children face disrupted schooling, caregivers struggle to pay rent and households lose the very person who provided for them,” said Raymon Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges. “Our goal isn’t to replace every dollar lost—we can’t—but we can alleviate some of the immediate worry while families regroup.”
Since the beginning of 2025, immigration authorities have reportedly made over 100,000 arrests nationwide, with a notable surge in enforcement activity in recent months. Locally, there have been reports of ICE arrests in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, though full figures are likely underreported due to the limitations of publicly available data.
A recent survey conducted through the Community Bridges Family Resource Collective sites in Watsonville, Live Oak, Santa Cruz and Felton revealed widespread fear of deportation among families, with over 90% expressing concern about immigration enforcement and its impacts. Many respondents also showed interest in preparedness and educational resources.
Community Bridges is calling on local residents, faith communities and donors to support the Emergency Family Aid Fund. Contributions directly aid families facing crisis, helping to ensure that children and elders are cared for despite immigration-related disruptions. Donations and more information are available at give.communitybridges.org/Puentes.
