Santa Clara County coalition to help families impacted by immigration enforcement action

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (KGO) -- A coalition of faith, community and government leaders, came together Wednesday to announce the county-wide launch of the 'Rapid Response Network' which is aimed at protecting local families from separation due to immigrations enforcement.

Santa Clara County officials have allocated $100,000 to help fund the program for its first year, including a 24/7 hotline residents can call to report ICE activity. More than 500 volunteers have been trained on how to respond to families who need support and resources.

"They're trained to ask questions, direct people as to what to say and not say," says Dave Cortese, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. "That's very important to us, in terms of due process."

RELATED: Bay Area officials, immigrants stand strong behind DACA

ABC7 News spoke to an undocumented immigrant who came to the U.S. more than 25 years ago from Mexico. She did not want to be identified but said she is grateful to Santa Clara County for its commitment to protecting its residents, regardless of citizenship and/or residency status.

"It has been a constant fear, nightmares and panic attacks," said an undocumented immigrant from Mountain View. "It's not only me but my community."

This all comes as the Trump Administration reviews DACA - also known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program - which was originally put into effect by President Barack Obama. More than 800,000 undocumented immigrants, whose parents brought them into the U.S. illegally as children, are currently protected from deportation under the program.

Maria Contreras, San Jose State University student, came to the U.S. from her native Colombia when she was five, and can't imagine living anywhere else.

"This is where I grew up, this is everything I know," said Contreras. "I love this country, and I hope that people out there get that."

In a letter to President Trump defending the DACA program, Gov. Jerry Brown wrote: "To uproot these young people from the only country they have known as home is to turn our back on the future. It is cruel and it runs counter to the ideals this country was founded on."

At least 10 Attorneys General have threatened to sue the federal government if it doesn't end the DACA program by September 5.

Click here to register as a 'Rapid Response Network' volunteer.

To report ICE activity, or to reach the 'Rapid Response Network' for assistance, call 408-290-1144.