805UndocuFund

Many people in Montecito and environs probably only think of 805UndocuFund as the community-based organization on high alert about immigration enforcement activities in the area, one that publicizes the phone number to call when activity is spotted and asking residents to be observant, mobilize, and report what they see. Doing what it can to reduce the numbers of undocumented immigrants facing detention or deportation is a huge part of its work – indeed the item at the top of its website implores viewers to “Report ICE! Text or call.” 

But there’s much more to the grassroots, immigrant-led nonprofit serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties than opposing ICE raids. 

The organization was founded in 2018 by leaders in the community who were involved with other nonprofits and foundations including the Fund for Santa Barbara, Future Leaders of America, and others working in the social justice space. That was right after the devastating Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow, which saw inequities in how victims of the twin disasters were receiving assistance. 

“It came together as their project because they saw the need in the community in all different facets of what they were already supporting in their day-to-day work,” explained Development Manager Maile Hernandez. “There was a need that wasn’t being filled by the government because undocumented people cannot get government support in times of disasters.”

805UndocuFund’s initial program was its Emergency Assistance for Disaster Relief, which provides direct financial assistance to undocumented and mixed-status families who are impacted by natural disasters including home fires. The fund supports households facing displacement, loss of income, unsafe living conditions, or other disaster-related hardships – ensuring families can meet immediate needs and begin recovery with dignity and community support. 

During the pandemic, the fund also supported undocumented residents suffering from the economic effects of the shutdown. 

“It transitioned into the support people needed during Covid when the exact same thing happened, where the main breadwinner could not support their family or go to work because of illness,” Hernandez said. “When the main breadwinner lost their job, when they couldn’t pay rent, it was about getting money directly into people’s pockets when they needed it. All of that continues to happen when the need comes up.” 

Now, there’s also a separate Emergency Assistance fund to provide direct financial assistance to qualifying familieswho have loved ones currently in deportation proceedings, detained, or already deported. 

Anticipating the huge ramp up in enforcement efforts after the election in November 2024, another related organization was formed, with 805UndocuFund among the organizations involved, Hernandez said. It was January 19, 2025.

“The Rapid Response Network is a system that tracks and responds to ICE activity reports,” she said. “We do legal observation, we do know your rights education, and we provide immediate assistance when someone is taken.”

What that looks like, she said, is having patrollers in the tri-county area who are designated volunteers as well as staff who note activity at jails and other hotspots where ICE operates on a regular basis. 

“We want to be there when they are picked up, not to interfere in any way, shape or form, but to provide that immediate assistance to make sure that they know their rights and let their families know that we are here to support them. That includes a one-time financial grant, but also trying to connect them to as many services as possible for legal aid, food, and everything in between. We work with grassroots groups and mobile food banks to get help for basic needs for people who are afraid to leave their homes.” 

The scene at jails can be pretty horrifying, Hernandez said. 

“When someone gets released after a day, a week, or for however long they’re in, their family might be waiting for them outside to take them home,” she explained. “Well, ICE gets the information early and is waiting for them in the lobby or right outside the lobby and they grab them. Families have to watch their loved one get taken in front of them.”

The reach of 805UndocuFund over the years has been quite extensive. Since its founding in 2018, the organization has distributed over nine million dollars in direct aid to immigrant families impacted by climate-induced disasters, the Covid pandemic, and immigration enforcement.

In a press release in late May, 805UndocuFund notes reports of a dramatic escalation in immigration enforcement activities across the tri-county region, with a record 2,046 documented kidnappings or detentions under the current administration. The data reveals a sharp acceleration in enforcement tactics, prompting an urgent call for community mobilization and philanthropic support. As the community faces this unprecedented wave of enforcement, 805UndocuFund is issuing a stark warning against desensitization: “We cannot normalize this violence,” the statement reads. “It is happening right in our neighborhoods, and looking away makes us complicit in it.”

Still, the nonprofit is working to lend emotional support as well, including planning for a vigil and a healing space for different organizations working in the space, Hernandez said. 

“There are a lot of us feeling the weight and the trauma of more than a year of fighting every day to make sure that our community is safe,” she said. “We’re proud to see how far we’ve come as organizations, but also aware of the realities of what this government has made us have to do.”

Community support makes a massive difference, she said. 

“It’s really great to know how strong the community is together and how willing everybody is to stand up for their community members and to build this kind of resilience. That’s something that has come out of all this – an even more deeply connected community network across organizations and grassroots groups.” 

The “Art for Justice” fundraiser held earlier in June at Topa Topa Brewery in Santa Barbara proved beneficial on both fronts, Hernandez said. 

The Brasscals performed while people had a chance to bid on art and other items donated to the event that was largely organized by the community, lending both emotional and financial support. 

“We raised over $21,000, and people were really moved by having so many people show up and bring their friends to support the cause. It’s very impactful to share this event with the community, with your neighbors, with the people that you are always around, people who brought friends to support the cause. It was very meaningful.”  

Visit www.805undocufund.org