When ICE strikes, Santa Ana’s grocery heroes roll out: Undocumented community gets volunteers for help

As a grassroots response to a growing crisis in Santa Ana, California, a quiet but powerful movement is unfolding as volunteers mobilize to support undocumented families paralyzed by fear of immigration enforcement. What began as a small, neighborhood effort in the city’s Delhi area has rapidly expanded into a citywide network, providing essential services like grocery shopping and rides to appointments for families too afraid to leave their homes.

Recent federal immigration sweeps have sent shockwaves through Orange County’s large immigrant community. Santa Ana, where nearly half the population is foreign-born and about 102,000 residents are non-U.S. citizens, has become an epicenter of anxiety. Reports indicate that many undocumented residents are staying home from work and relying on citizen relatives or volunteers for basic necessities, fearing encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

One volunteer, who goes by Cuauhtli, described how her involvement began with her child’s grandmother, who was too afraid to leave the house. “That’s when I knew, ‘Oh my God, there must be more people afraid to leave their homes,’” she told NBC. Cuauhtli now delivers groceries to families she’s never met, fulfilling simple requests for staples like beans, fruit, and rice. “I see a need and I just feel a sense of urgency to fill it,” she said.

A surge in requests

In just one week, the volunteer group received a flood of requests for help, ranging from food deliveries to rides for medical appointments. The effort quickly outgrew its original neighborhood focus, with more than 200 people stepping up to offer time and donations. “People think that going out and protesting is the only type of action you can take, but you can support the undocumented community in many ways,” Cuauhtli emphasized.

The support network is not limited to food and transportation. Local organizations like the Orange County Rapid Response Network and Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development are coordinating mutual aid and legal support, aiming to reassure residents that they are not alone.

Wider support infrastructure: Legal and social services

Santa Ana’s city government and nonprofit partners have also responded to the crisis. The city’s Immigration Legal Defense Fund provides legal assistance to low-income immigrants facing deportation, operating under a universal representation model to ensure publicly funded defense for all, regardless of status.

Community-based organizations, such as Building Healthy Communities and Immigrant Defenders Law Center, work in tandem with volunteers to make legal and social services accessible.

Other groups, like Voice of Refugees and Catholic Charities of Orange County, offer a spectrum of support, from food deliveries and ESL classes to help with citizenship applications and employment assistance. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs coordinates these efforts, connecting families with food banks, legal aid, and financial support.

Data and the scale of need

• Santa Ana’s immigrant population: Approximately 153,900 immigrants, 46% of the city’s population; about 102,000 are non-U.S. citizens.
• Four out of five children in Santa Ana have at least one immigrant parent, with most of these children being U.S. citizens.
• Over 200 volunteers have joined the grassroots grocery and errand delivery network in just one week.
• Local organizations report a surge in requests for help, as families avoid public spaces and essential errands due to fear of ICE activity.