Activist Groups Launch Trauma Therapy Support for Undocumented Immigrants Amid Mass Deportation Crisis

By Staff Reporter |

In a bid to alleviate the anxiety facing illegal immigrants amid fears of mass deportations, activist groups are implementing trauma therapy programs. The Coalición de Derechos Humanos (Human Rights Coalition, HRC) in Tucson has established a dedicated committee focused on mental health services tailored for this community.

This past weekend, HRC hosted its inaugural emotional support forum. The event addressed the adaptive behaviors that illegal immigrants adopt due to their constant worry about deportation, as well as the stress, anxiety, and depression stemming from uncertainty. HRC provided several recommendations, including the identification of emotions, self-care practices, and strategies to address the fears of deportation. Suggestions included maintaining one’s environment, resisting social comparisons, taking each day individually, and creating an “emotional first aid kit.”

Leading the forum was trauma therapist Sandra Martinez, who guided participants toward greater emotional resilience.

Besides HRC, the forum was co-hosted by several organizations, including Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish, Immigration Law & Justice Network, Mamas Con Poder, Paisanos Unidos, and the Cultural Resource Center for Women and Their Families. HRC’s initiative reflects a growing trend, similar to efforts by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), which has begun offering free virtual mental health services to illegal immigrants, alongside legal guidance and training. Recently, HRC collaborated with the Consulate of Mexico to launch UNAM’s digital platform, Acción Migrante, aimed at supporting undocumented individuals.

The organization also acts in defense of illegal immigrants during visits by immigration enforcement. Through its “Rapid Response” network, HRC serves as a mediator when ICE arrives at homes where undocumented immigrants live. They also provide legal assistance to affected families, utilizing a community tip line for coordination.

In a notable incident reported by Tucson Spotlight last week, an HRC affiliate, Luis Campo, director of the Alliance of Idaho, successfully prevented ICE agents from entering a home inhabited by a Venezuelan couple and their four unaccompanied children. Campo insisted that agents must present a signed judicial warrant before gaining entry.

Similar to other pro-immigrant organizations, HRC organizes “Know Your Rights” workshops designed to educate undocumented immigrants and local businesses on strategies to avoid ICE encounters. Many local businesses, particularly those heavily reliant on undocumented workers, have expressed gratitude for the guidance HRC provides to prevent ICE from entering their premises.

Financially, HRC’s nonprofit, known as the Arizona Border Rights Foundation, reported revenue exceeding $160,000 in 2023. The leadership team comprises individuals closely tied to the University of Arizona. Key figures include Isabel Garcia, a former legal defender for Pima County; Violeta Dominguez, a research scientist and advocate; Ildefonso “Poncho” Chavez, a director at the Eller College of Management; and Raquel Rubio Goldsmith, co-director of the university’s Binational Migration Institute.