Thousands of people in this country live in constant fear, asking themselves, “What if I don’t make it back home?” Yet, some argue
that the mass deportations were necessary—a so-called “step needed” to ensure safety and security. Not only does it disrupt the lives of many that have built their lives from scratch, but it also disrupts the future many see for themselves and their families.
Beneath the policy lies racial profiling, injustice, and both emotional and physical damage. As California Governor Gavin Newsome said, “If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe.”
Imagine working for many years in America, only to suddenly get deported, losing everything you’ve built up. Imagine being sent back to a country you’ve never stepped foot in; you were technically born there, but you left as an infant. You then need to learn to adapt in a place you have no memory of. These narratives may sound exaggerated, but they have happened to many people in recent months.
Many people argue that this is needed simply because it is “the law”, even though the law is supposed to protect lives, not destroy them. These raids target innocent people—people who are hardworking, and in some ways invisible, but essential to the country.
Deportations don’t just target “dangerous criminals”; they also target ordinary people with no criminal record. The vast majority
of undocumented immigrants bring nothing criminal to the table. A video surfaced across social media showing a mother being surrounded and detained. When I say detained, I do not mean detained using standard police procedure. She was forcibly dragged out of her car while her young children watched. She possessed no criminal record whatsoever but was stopped due to the color of her skin; that was no mistake.
The narrative of ICE agents only stopping and deporting those with criminal records is misleading; they are stopping people who have no
history of being dangerous—ordinary people who pay taxes, contribute to the community, and go to work to help their families. If the true
purpose of mass deportations was to remove dangerous criminals from the country, the reality across the country would be very different than what we’re seeing now.
The conditions of the detention centers are very inhumane; these detention centers suffer from severe overcrowding, little to no medical
care, unsanitary conditions, abuse, and mistreatment. One facility that’s notorious for its cruel and inhumane conditions is the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility located in South Florida. This facility receives heavy criticism, namely due to the fact that alligators surround it on all sides, making escape extremely dangerous.
At the beginning of the year, I saw firsthand how the ICE raids impacted my community, leading to friends, family, and others I knew living in fear.
My mom, who has lived in this country for 27 years while raising her children and working, is now afraid to go out and do her daily tasks,
fearing that she may not make it back home to us.
Like many others, going out to get groceries or necessities has become difficult. Many people rely on those with driver’s licenses to get what they need and to take them to doctor’s appointments and other essential errands. Another example comes from my 10-year-old cousin, who had a very close friend who was deported at a birthday party—that’s right, at a birthday party.
This issue does not only affect Hispanic and Latino families. ICE targets other immigrants from places like Asia, Africa and the Middle East,
as well as noncitizens married to American citizens.
America is known as the “land of opportunity” and a country that promises “freedom for all,” but when an immigrant tries to live out those
promises, they are suddenly faced with conditions to living on this land. My parents experienced racism firsthand and felt disposed of in a country where all they wanted was a chance to live out the so called “American dream.” Now they must live in fear that a simple grocery trip will turn into a goodbye.
Deportation isn’t simply a legal process—it disrupts and tears apart families, neighbors, schools and workplaces, leaving them emotionally scarred. Donald Trump has stated that these mass deportations only target those with criminal records, but people with no criminal record are being detained based purely on the color of their skin.
These mass deportations are not conceptual—they become personal when we see our own communities being targeted. They
have caused major disruptions in our lives, from breadwinners afraid to go to work, worried that they might not come back to children afraid to even attend school.
This forces parents to choose between providing for their families and risking arrest by simply going to work. These raids primarily
target Hispanic and Latino workers, even though they are essential to America’s agricultural industry. Why dispose of the people helping grow our economy and putting food on our tables?
Will we continue to watch these families being torn apart, or will we stand up, fight for change, and advocate for those who cannot speak
for themselves? Change will not happen overnight, and it will not be easy. Every voice matters. Every story matters. We belong here. We matter here. And we deserve a country that treats us with dignity and respect, not as if we are disposable garbage. We need justice. We need to bring awareness to the mistreatment caused by these raids.