Dear friends,
Many of you have been reaching out to El Futuro to understand how the impact of ICE presence in our community and the work that we do, so we want to share some updates and helpful resources.
We are hearing heightened levels of stress, fear, and uncertainty among clients and community members following reports of ICE presence in the region. While we do not collect or report information related to immigration status, we are seeing increased anxiety that is affecting daily life, family routines, and individuals’ willingness to attend appointments.
“Our priority, today and every day, is for families to feel safe when they come through our doors.” said Dr. Luke Smith, Executive Director of El Futuro. “We want the community to know that El Futuro is a confidential and protected space. We do not share information with law enforcement about immigration status, and no one should avoid receiving mental health care out of fear. Your safety and well-being matter.”
Our clinicians have heard clients express concerns about:
- Fear of being separated from family members
- Hesitation to drive or leave home for appointments
- Increased anxiety in children due to uncertainty at school and home
- Sleep difficulties, panic symptoms, and emotional distress related to the news
This climate of fear is not new, but it is real, and it has mental-health consequences. El Futuro is committed to supporting individuals and families during this time and ensuring uninterrupted access to services.
“We want community partners to help us amplify this message: Mental health support should not stop because of fear. El Futuro is a safe place. We are here, we are open, and we are standing with our community.” — Dr. Luke Smith
RESOURCES TO KNOW AND SHARE
Below is a list of trusted legal and safety resources that families can use right now if they have questions or concerns:
- North Carolina Justice Center – Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
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- Phone: (919) 856-2570 or toll-free 1-888-251-2776
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- Location: Raleigh, NC – statewide assistance on immigration & civil legal matters.
- Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy – Immigrant Justice Program
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- Phone: 704-376-1600. Toll-free (outside Mecklenburg County): 800-438-1254. Spanish line: 800-247-1931.
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- Location: Charlotte / Mecklenburg & neighboring counties – legal aid regardless of immigration status.
- Legal Aid of North Carolina
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- Website: legalaidnc.org
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- Helpline: 1-866-219-LANC (5262) (Legal Aid of North Carolina)
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- Location: Statewide. Free civil legal help for immigrants (non-criminal issues); also runs the IMMPAV project for immigrant survivors
- Location: Statewide. Free civil legal help for immigrants (non-criminal issues); also runs the IMMPAV project for immigrant survivors
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh – Immigration Legal Services
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- Website: catholiccharitiesraleigh.org
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- Phone: 984-900-3114
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- Location: Raleigh, NC. Assistance with filings, immigration matters (likely fee-based or sliding scale).
- Location: Raleigh, NC. Assistance with filings, immigration matters (likely fee-based or sliding scale).
- American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) – Immigrants’ Rights & Know Your Rights
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- Phone: 919-834-3466 ACLU of North Carolina+2ACLU of North Carolina+2
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- Mission: Protecting civil liberties of immigrants, providing rights education and legal-advocacy tools.
- Carolina Migrant Network: All legal services are provided at no cost.
- Website: https://carolinamigrantnetwork.org/?
- Phone: +1 704-457-5269
- Location: Statewide, North Carolina
*Note: Requirements, fees, and availability vary, we encourage families to call ahead.
Please visit more resources that put together for you HERE where you can find emergency guides in spanish and english as well as toolkits, mental health practices guides, family prepareness plan, and more.
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Call 988-Free, to receive confidential support over text or on the phone for anyone in crisis. Available in English and Spanish
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DHHS crisis services website near you
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Get an Appointment with El Futuro or see a flyer with our Walk-in clinic information. Fill out this form to be contacted by El Futuro to get virtual services.
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Hispanic Federation Mental Health hotline- available in English and Spanish: 844-438-6827
- See and report ICE activity here: https://iceout.org/en/
- Siembra NC developed an Immigration Advocacy and Community Engagement Platform
We also encourage families to become familiar with Know Your Rights resources, including:
- What to do if approached by immigration officers
- Which documents to carry with you
- Your right to remain silent
- Safety planning for families with children
El Futuro clinics remain open and operate as confidential, therapeutic spaces. Every client, regardless of immigration status, language, or background, deserves access to care and the peace of mind needed to heal.
“We don’t want fear to stop families from caring for their mental health. If you need us, come. We will welcome you with dignity and respect.”
Alvely Alcántara, LCSW
Rossy C. Garcia, MEd 
Katy Sims, MD 
Everardo Aviles, LCSW, LCAS (Eve)
As a medical anthropologist and social work researcher, Dr. Gulbas’ research embodies interdisciplinarity through the integration of applied theories of health and human development with qualitative and ethnographic methodologies. Her work seeks to understand how people—children, families, and providers—navigate complex sociocultural landscapes in the pursuit of mental health. Most of her work, to date, focuses attention on developing more robust interpretations of suicide risk. With funding from the National Institutes of Mental Health, this body of research has contributed to advancements in theoretical and empirical knowledge of the broader contexts within which youth suicide risk is situated. 
R. Gabriela Barajas-Gonzalez is a developmental psychologist and an assistant professor of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Barajas-Gonzalez is the principal investigator of a study that examines the impact of immigration-related threat and stress on school communities. She earned a PhD in developmental psychology from Columbia University and hold a BA in human biology from Stanford University. Dr. Barajas-Gonzalez is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a first gen college student.
Dr. Parra-Cardona is an Associate Professor in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work (SHSSW) at the University of Texas at Austin. At the SHSSW, he serves as Coordinator for Mexico and Latin American initiatives. He also serves as Area Director for Research at the UT Austin Latino Research Institute. Dr. Parra-Cardona’s program of research is focused on the cultural adaptation of evidence-based parenting interventions for low-income Latinx populations in the US and Latin America.
Bianka Reese, PhD, MSPH is a research scientist and program evaluator specializing in adolescent and young adult sexual and reproductive health. Her previous research in the experiences of Latinx LGBTQ+ youth stems from her work as the Research and Evaluation Manager at SHIFT NC (Sexual Initiatives For Teens), where she led largescale evaluations of multilevel, community-based sexual health promotion initiatives and research projects aimed at elevating the voices of diverse youth in North Carolina. Dr. Reese is currently the Senior Research Strategist at Creative Research Solutions, LLC, an award-winning national evaluation, research, and assessment firm.
Tania Connaughton-Espino, MPH is an independent researcher focused on adolescent and young adult sexual and reproductive health. Her interest in the experiences of Latinx LGBTQ+ youth stems from her previous work with SHIFT NC (Sexual Initiatives For Teens), where she led the training and evaluation department, conducted capacity-building workshops for youth serving professionals including on the topic of how to be more affirming of LGBTQ youth, and from her extensive experience working with the Latinx population in NC.
Maru Gonzalez, EdD is an Assistant Professor and Youth Development Specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University. Her areas of inquiry include youth development with a focus on activism, social justice, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people across familial, school, and community contexts. 
Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas, PhD
Hector Y. Adames, PsyD