Since the inauguration of President Trump on January 20th, immigration has been on the chopping block. A series of executive orders by Trump were issued and went into action almost immediately affecting undocumented immigrants. Last month, nearly 11,000 migrants were deported, and almost 4,300 of them were arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to the Department of Homeland Security, during Trump’s first month in office, ICE had arrested more than 20,000 immigrants and by the end of February, almost 44,000 migrants were held in detention centers.
In response, anti-deportation protests began very early in Trump’s second term. California, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and many other states have seen protests in the past few months. In San Diego, Lincoln High School had its own protest on February 7th. Hundreds of students walked out of their classrooms to show their opposition to the deportations.
Student organizers of the walkout and members of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán club on Lincoln’s campus explained their reasons for organizing the protest. President of MEChA Makayla Day Jiminez said, “We decided to walkout today and protest because there’s a lot of ICE raids going on in our community and neighborhoods, and we felt that we needed to speak out for them because they can’t really do anything for themselves since if they do come out they are in danger of being taken away by ICE.” The protest began at 11:20, and the group circled around the school. Club Publicity Officer Jazzlyn Ojeda said, “Even students here, their parents have been taken by ICE…they’ve also been roaming around, like outside our school.” Protesters held signs and flags of various nations and chanted, “No one is illegal on stolen land.” Signs read “Las familias pertenecen juntas,” “Viva la Raza,” “Keep families together,” “I will stand for my people,” and “No human is illegal.” Club member Aurora Lopez Matthews, said about the deportations, “It’s just wrong; people shouldn’t get punished for wanting a better life and a safer life.”
After the main walkout ended, a few students stayed outside the school and stood on the median strip of Imperial Avenue. One person waved a Mexican flag as cars drove by, honking in support. Club Historian Sophia Bello said people “should see that it’s important to fight and not stay silent.” As for the future, Trump has said from the beginning of his campaign, he would attack immigration, and it seems that his plan is unfolding. Only time will tell the fate of immigration in the United States.
