In the Portola neighborhood of San Francisco, a new school‑based program is giving immigrant families a lifeline. When Carolina woke to the beeping of her ankle monitor, she knew she faced two immigration appointments that day. Instead of navigating the federal building alone, she was joined by Ernesto Rodriguez, a social worker at her son’s elementary school.
Educators step into a critical role
Since January, the San Francisco Unified School District’s RiseSF office, the nonprofit Faith in Action, and the teachers’ union have trained staff in 20 schools to accompany students and their families to immigration appointments and court hearings. So far, 137 families have been escorted, and none have been arrested during those visits.
Rodriguez, who has accompanied roughly ten families from his school, says the program is “something you do” – a natural extension of community service. He and fellow social worker Stefanie Eldred even pooled personal funds to help a family secure a legal consultation when the family lacked representation.
Why the accompaniment matters
Missing a single appointment can trigger a “removed in absentia” order, effectively deporting a person without a hearing. For families terrified of entering a federal building alone, the presence of a trusted teacher or staff member can turn a frightening ordeal into a manageable task. As Carolina noted after her first check‑in, “Thank God, along the way I found angels.”
When an appointment results in an arrest, educators are trained to call a Rapid Response Hotline that connects families with attorneys who can file habeas petitions for release. The teachers’ union even covers substitute‑teacher costs so that staff can accompany families without disrupting classroom instruction.
Community impact beyond the school walls
The program’s ripple effect reaches beyond individual appointments. At International High School in Potrero Hill, senior seminar instructor Antoine Lagarde helped a Peruvian mother of two attend a court hearing with a support entourage that included a Catholic priest and a district‑contracted attorney. The hearing was rescheduled, giving the family a chance to stay together.
Students themselves notice the difference. Lagarde observes that children whose parents receive accompaniment arrive at school less tense and more focused, improving overall academic performance.
Building a web of support
Faith in Action, the nonprofit partner, coordinates volunteers, legal aid, and faith‑based leaders to create a “web of community support” that counters the fear‑driven immigration system. By linking educators, social workers, attorneys, and clergy, the initiative demonstrates how local institutions can protect families while respecting the rule of law.
As the program expands, school districts across the nation are watching San Francisco’s model as a possible blueprint for supporting immigrant families in their own communities.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
