Know Your Rights: Empowering Communities Through Knowledge

Earlier this month, CIRH hosted the Know Your Rights: Train the Trainer webinar, a practical and empowering session designed to strengthen participants’ capacity to deliver Know Your Rights workshops within their own communities.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us and participated so thoughtfully throughout the session. A special thank-you to our partners at Project ANAR for their powerful presentation and ongoing commitment to immigrant justice. Their expertise shed light on practical strategies for rapid response, family preparedness, and community education during times of uncertainty.

Key Takeaways

The webinar emphasized the importance of being informed, prepared, and connected. Participants:

• Gained practical strategies for leading Know Your Rights workshops with confidence and clarity.

• Strengthened their ability to support community members and respond to common questions effectively.

You can download the presentation slides for future reference and share them within your networks to continue spreading awareness and empowerment.

Featured Resources

We have compiled the key materials and tools shared during the session to support your ongoing community work:

🧭 Know Your Rights Resources

• Rapid Response Reference Guide from Project ANAR

• Creating a Family Preparedness Plan from Immigrant Legal Resource Center

• Immigrant Students' Rights to Attend Public Schools from Intercultural Development Research Association

• Immigration Guidance at School for Educators and Families from the National Education Association (NEA)

• Guide for Undocumented Individuals Traveling in the U.S. from Immigrants Rising

💬 Virtual Supports

• Mental Health Connector by Immigrants Rising: a free, virtual, and confidential mental health service for undocumented students in California between 18 and 45 years old. Eligible applicants will be matched with a therapist on a first-come, first-served basis and will close once capacity is reached.

• The Ready Now App by Human Rights First’s Innovation Lab: a tool for immigrants in fear of deportation and separation from their families. Developed in partnership with the NILRA, immigration attorneys, community advocates, and cybersecurity experts, to ensure the app is not only effective but safe to use—especially under the uniquely hostile enforcement environment of the current administration. Works on iPhones and Android.

📊 Data Tools for Advocacy

• The Deportation Data Project: Updated individual-level ICE enforcement data, which now covers Sep. 2023 through Jul. 29, 2025. The new dataset includes tables tracking all ICE encounters, detainers, arrests, and detentions. It does not include a removals table because that table contained significant errors.

• The California Immigrant Data Portal: a resource and progress tracker for immigrants and those serving immigrant communities across the state of California. This portal presents data and case studies that can be used to better understand and promote the well-being of immigrants, their families, and their communities.

Continuing the Work

We thank you again for your continued partnership and commitment to empowering our communities. By staying informed, sharing resources, and supporting one another, we strengthen the foundation of safety, dignity, and belonging for all.

Stay connected with CIRH for future trainings, events, and community resources that uplift immigrant and refugee voices across California.