10 Mar Antioch Immigrants and Renters Gain Legal Insights at ACCE’s Know Your Rights Workshop

Leah Simon, legal director of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, speaks at a workshop to inform renters and immigrants in Antioch of their rights. (Gabbie Munoz / The CC Pulse)

By Gabbie Munoz

The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment hosted a Know Your Rights workshop Feb. 27 at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center in Antioch, focusing on tenant and immigrant rights.

The event was part of a series of Know Your Rights workshops convened by ACCE to equip local communities with essential information on tenant protections, immigration issues, and available legal resources.

Leah Simon, legal director for ACCE, addressed the challenges that Antioch residents may face, not just from landlords but also in light of the new presidential administration.

During the conversation about tenant rights, Simon emphasized important local protections for renters in Antioch, including limits on rent increases and safeguards against tenant harassment and eviction without just cause.

“It’s important you don’t pay more than you have to, and make sure your neighbors aren’t either,” Simon said.

She also said that tenants should not face eviction because of racial discrimination or other reasons that are not legally valid. Furthermore, Simon noted that if a landlord wishes to bring someone else into a rental property, the landlord is required to cover the cost of relocation for the existing tenant, so they don’t end up homeless.

“These ordinances really came out of an awareness that when you have these policies, you can’t just evict people for no reason,” said Simon said. “And you can’t raise the rents to these obscene amounts.”

Simon also spoke about how migrants can protect themselves against landlords and what they need to be aware of.

“It’s illegal in California [for a landlord] to ask the tenant to provide information about their immigration status,” Simon said.

She also said that landlords are prohibited from threatening to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement in an attempt to intimidate tenants.

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On top of the tenant rights and protections, Simon discussed other rights that remain during a difficult time for immigrants.

“The Trump administration has created a lot of threats and made folks pretty uncomfortable and fearful and targeting people who are immigrants,” said Simon.

She explained that individuals have the right to remain silent when questioned about their immigration status.

“In California, you do not have to state your name, and you could just simply say, ‘I am exercising my right to remain silent,’ ” Simon said.

Simon also pointed out that if agents inquire about a person’s legal status, only those with green cards or visas are required to present their documentation. Citizens or undocumented individuals do not need to provide any documents.

However, recent changes in immigration enforcement in California have raised concerns among migrants.

“They weren’t doing it before, but … within 100 miles of the land and sea [borders] of the U.S … California immigration agents have the authority to stop you in transit for a search,” Simon warned.

Immigration agents also have the authority to board public transportation and set up checkpoints to search vehicles. If detained, Simon advised individuals to ask why they are being detained and whether they are free to go.

Another warning that was given was about ICE agents being able to enter people’s homes.

“Immigration agents can enter onto private property, like your yard, but they cannot enter your home without a judicial warrant,” Simon said. “It is recommended you keep the door closed.”

Simon also said that if someone claims to have a warrant, individuals should ask to see it by having the agent slide it under the door or through a window.

In the event of an arrest, Simon recommended that you remain silent and refuse to sign any documents.

Patricia Aguilar, an organizer of the event, said workshops like this are important because this region of the county has a large population of immigrants, and ensuring that they feel comfortable attending and learning is paramount.

“I came here to learn,” said one attendee, whom we granted anonymity for their safety. “It has been very scary with everything going on, and I wanted to protect my family.”

Melvin Willis, an organizer for ACCE, said the goal of the workshops is to provide knowledge to individuals and give them the opportunity to be a part of something bigger and make an impact.

“With the new administration, we’ve seen a lot of families that get attacked just because of their status or color of their skin,” he said, “so we’re doing this to give people a chance to make sure they know what their rights are.”