SANTA CRUZ >> In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive orders seeking to advance his campaign pledge to carry out what he has called “the largest deportation program in American history,” many immigrant families have been on edge about what these policies could mean for them or their families, and what they would need to do if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents come knocking at their doors.

Many agencies have stepped up to clarify what people’s rights are in these situations and provide additional resources. That includes the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which has partnered with the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Community Bridges and Watsonville Law Center to establish the website Sus Derechos. Spanish for “your rights,” Sus Derechos is a one-stop shop for immigrant communities in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties featuring resources on legal assistance, agencies that provide support and information on immigrants’ rights.

Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County superintendent of schools, said the site was launched on Jan. 20, the day Trump was sworn in. The goal is to provide a multi-tiered approach to addressing the community during a time that has many families worried.

“People have lots of questions,” he said. “The schools, in collaboration with other community-based organizations, are really trying to provide as much information and assurances to our community, to ensure that they have up-to-date information (and) resources, especially for our mixed-status families about any immigration enforcement activity and the rights that they have.”

On Friday, Sabbah issued a letter to families reaffirming the Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s commitment to its immigrant community, including a coordinated approach to safeguard the rights of students and their families. This approach includes the launch of Sus Derechos, which has information in English and Spanish on education rights, legal assistance, health and wellness rights, employment and housing rights and resources and agencies for additional support.

“We felt having a web resource, kind of a repository of information that provided those resources and was accessible for folks was also important,” said Sabbah.

The site also has printable red cards, courtesy of the Community Action Board, which provide undocumented immigrants with information on their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights if they are ever in contact with ICE agents. The cards explain that the cardholders have the right to remain silent and to not grant ICE agents permission to enter their homes unless they have a warrant with their name on it slid under the door, and signed by a judge or magistrate. The site also has a guide on whether a court order is legitimate or simply an administrative order by ICE.

“There’s also information on how to review documentation if ICE officials attempt to enter a school or another facility, to verify that they have a valid signed judicial warrant that would allow them access, and also steps to take to verify that information and respond to ICE officials attempting to enter our schools or facilities,” said Sabbah.

Another resource available is the Child Care Safety Plan, which allows parents to outline who will take care of their children in the event the parents are taken away for any reason. Sabbah also highlighted the site’s information on access to health care assistance.

“One of the concerns we have, of course, is that as a result of the fear that is being instilled in our community, that our families are not going to be accessing lots of resources or sending their children to school. We want to be able to allay their fears about that and ensure that they continue to utilize necessary services,” he said.

Sabbah said the primary objective is to provide clear information to families about their rights and resources.

“(We want) to assure them that our schools and community-based organizations — and our entire county, really — is standing in solidarity with them and is doing everything we can to keep them safe and protected,” he said.

For more information, visit SusDerechos.info.