It was midnight on January 1st, a year full of fresh starts and memories, wasn’t it? I never once considered the terrible, dark events that were going to happen in the coming days of the New Year. Even though I’m incredibly fortunate to be a US citizen, hearing about the ICE raids in California crushes my heart. They call it the “Land Of The Free,” but other people live in continual fear of having their families torn apart by ICE.
I feel sorrow and anguish for all Hispanic communities, for the lives of the children and families that will never be the same. Numerous people fear that they won’t be showing up for work, and scared kids and families wonder whether they will be split up.
According to BBC News, Brenda a 37-year-old Mexico-born “Dreamer” in Texas, is currently protected from deportation but her husband and her mother are not. Her two children were born in the US and are American citizens. While Brenda told BBC News she does not believe that “good people” would be the first targets for deportation, she can’t escape the thought that her husband could be sent back to Mexico.
Now that President Trump begins his second term in office, not a day passes that I don’t worry about what the next four years will bring for all undocumented Hispanics. My heartfelt prayers are sent to them and their families.
Bakersfield, a strongly dominated Latin community, experienced and witnessed racial profiling, as it became one of the first cities to get raided by ICE. According to NBC News, Immigration authorities made close to 1,200 arrests in just one day, and nearly half of those detained don’t have criminal records.
I find it astounding that immigrants helped construct our communities just to have those same industrious individuals removed. ICE soon arrived in Selma a few days later and carried out the same action as they had in Bakersfield, asking questions based solely on their appearance, demanding a source of identification to prove they were a US citizen.
According to the U.S. Constitution, everyone has certain rights and protections, regardless of their immigration status. The Know Your Rights Red Cards were developed to support individuals in standing up for their rights and protecting themselves against constitutional infractions. In many circumstances, even when ICE officials visit a house, being aware of and claiming one’s rights can make a big difference.
Why do we have to live in fear? While it doesn’t directly affect some of us, it doesn’t mean we should keep quiet. Protests quickly emerged across the whole valley to demonstrate how passionate they were for their local communities and those around them.
One recent protest took place which encaptivated me and other individuals. On Feb 2nd, thousands of people marched around Southern California in opposition to President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations. In downtown Los Angeles, protesters stopped the main freeway for several hours. The protesters marched to City Hall after gathering in the morning on Olvera Street, a historic avenue in Los Angeles that stretches back to Spanish and Mexican domination. “Nobody is illegal” was one of the banners they carried as they demanded immigration reform. It was a very moving sight to see, and their impactful movement demonstrated the strength of the Latin American community we have established.
Family, friends, and relatives are not the only people who are concerned about this matter. SHS is predominately Hispanic (91.3%). ICE is now being enforced in our classrooms by President Trump, students are now incapable of learning as the threat of mass deportations is a frightening reality for our students and students across America. Deportation enforcement should not take place in schools, a practice Trump is implementing, since they are delicate learning environments.
Although the identities of the specific SHS students who entered the country illegally as minors are unknown to us, as a community we are aware that ICE should not visit our schools because witnessing their classmates being taken away from them and not knowing about their whereabouts is tragic. The alleged “dreamers” come here to receive a quality education, not to be separated by ICE and lose the opportunities that American education offers us students. Being observed is one thing, but being questioned is quite another.
Querido Dios, en estos tiempos oscuros, te pedimos que nos protejas y nos guíes. Ilumina nuestro camino y dame la fuerza para enfrentar los desafíos que se presentan ante nosotros. Mantén nos en tu luz y tu amor, y protégenos de todo mal. Amén.
Dear God, in these dark times, we ask you to protect us and guide us. Illuminate our path and give us the strength to face the challenges that lie before us. Keep us in your light and your love, and protect us from all evil. Amen.
