Since Trump's inauguration, student-led protests against his anti-immigrant policies have intensified across the country. (Image credit: Brenda Verano)
This past weekend and in the last few days across this country, thousands of Latino family members, allies and more filled the streets of their downtowns and neighborhoods. It has been projected that the number was in the thousands on Sunday in Downtown L.A., with many more attending several solidarity events across the country. The images show that the crowds were mostly young people sparking complex conversations, criticisms and celebrations from veteran organizers and others.
Now, I want to write this as an immigrant who deeply appreciates everyone who stepped out of their normal routines or their lazy Sundays to get on public transit, or get through traffic, risk a ticket and more to march for immigrants, their families and much more. If this was your first protest, welcome, if this is your 100th, thank you for staying by our side.
No one person is more important in this fight than the other.
The ways we show up for each other continue to change and while they also stay the same. During the Mexican Revolution, Americans supported families, fighters and journalists who needed to flee for safety. Some Americans even fought with the revolutionaries, while war correspondents who spent time with the fighters made sure there was international attention on the war and the Porfirio regime’s human rights crimes. I’m not asking you to house immigrants now or bear arms, but there are ways some of us can do these things while others just can’t.
Start, rest, reset and start over if you have to
One important thing to consider is that we are only at the beginning of the second Trump administration. Some have argued that the headlines, executive actions and more are like a water hose of information. And while we will be reading news reports and seeing more videos and photos that will also shock us, it is important to not look away, but it is also important to not let it completely consume us.
Self-described Black lesbian, mother, warrior and poet Audre Lorde famously wrote, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
For young readers, this does not mean don’t go to school. This just means not letting the protests, the follow-ups and more become your entire life. For some, this isn’t the first time they’ve gone out to protest or have shown up for their loved ones or others, and we need you for the long haul. There will be times when things become harder, but we also need you to rest and make sure we’re ready for anything.
There are always things to do, people to uplift and support and news to understand. No one can do it all consistently. It’s OK to step back and step in.
Again, we’ve been here before
Not only is this the second Trump administration, but it is the second time communities impacted have resisted. For all four years of the previous administration, lawyers, students, teachers, workers, immigrants and more resisted the laws and policies President Trump and his administration sought to enact.
Back in 2017, my former students organized to protect their immigrant classmates and families by pushing for a sanctuary policy in the school district. Now, those students are finishing college, with some of them already in law school and working as teachers in the same district they graduated from.
In the years since 2017 and on, I’ve grown proud to see that their interests didn’t all go toward direct political action. Contrary to false claims and criticism that protestors are paid activists, none of my former students became that nor did they also all become organizers.
Bank tellers go to protests, teachers and cooks, too, and sometimes they don’t but they show up for immigrants by caring for them in their jobs, like supporting immigrant business owners with translating bank processes, affirming their immigrant students in class and providing food for benefits.
What I hope for is that anyone who gets involved in a protest for immigration of any kind is to feel committed to caring and supporting immigrants and immigrants of all kinds. That they understand, or at least, begin to understand the reason why people immigrate, how the immigration system impacts us all and that leaving your home for a better future is a shared sacrifice in so many other communities.
Latin American immigration shares so much with immigration from places like the Philippines, China, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Middle East. We can’t stand for Mexican immigrants at a protest and then hold views against others who don’t share our own flag.
But what can I do now?
Start in your neighborhood, your school, your local community. So much of this work can, at times, feel huge, and while certain decisions are made in Washington, D.C., it is important to look around you and know that caring is also about caring for what is happening, both directly to you and what happens around you.
There is a difference between direct action and advocacy and none is more important than the other. Direct action includes civil rights activities like what Rosa Parks did or how immigrant rights advocates refused to leave legislators' offices back in 2017 in the effort to push for immigration reform.
Advocacy can look like conducting research, getting people together to learn about what you found and contacting legislators like state senators and the mayor. There is also this process called power mapping, where you or a group get together to think of a problem in the community and begin to map out who has the power to change or fix this problem.
It is always about care
In the history of people standing up for injustice and working to support and liberate each other, there has also been a history of abuse, stories of men being in front of the cameras while the women did the actual work and much much more. Thankfully, the arc of history has exposed this and we have more women-led movements and organizations now more than ever.
Be aware of organizations, leaders and collectives who demand your time with no food, pay or benefit. If it feels wrong, it probably is.
If you start your own collective, share the leadership, find ways to ensure everyone gets a chance to try a leadership role and allow others who are limited on time to support however they can.
In the same history of people standing up for injustice and working to support and liberate each other, there has also been a lot of support, stories of men and women working together equally, of refusing charismatic leaders and relying on each other for leadership. Do we need prophetic leaders? Yes. But we also need each other much, much more.
Learn from art and history, and imagine
In the end, for me it has always been about imaging a better world. We will keep getting inundated with heartbreaking stories, news on executive actions, distracting remarks or events and other things, but we need to believe that a better future is still possible.
A poem I always go back to is Franny Choi’s Museum of Human Historywhere she imagines a future without jails and surveillance. In the poem, she helps the reader imagine what past institutions aren’t needed anymore. It could be prisons, deportations or anything you may deem unjust.
So, as I share the following places to possibly join or reach out to, don’t be afraid to look at the history of art, movies, poems, music and much more to imagine and find grounding.
Organizations to support
Individuals interested in supporting immigrants in Southern California can explore these organizations to find volunteer opportunities that align with their skills and interests. Engagement can range from legal assistance and advocacy to community outreach and support services, accommodating various levels of experience and availability.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
This organization offers internships and law clerkships for undergraduate, graduate and law students seeking experience in public interest work. These positions provide opportunities to engage in legal advocacy and community outreach.
Border Angels
Border Angels is a nonprofit focused on migrant rights, immigration reform and social justice, particularly concerning issues at the U.S.-Mexico border. Volunteers can participate in activities such as water drops in the desert to prevent migrant deaths, the Caravan of Love and day laborer outreach programs.
Church World Service (CWS) Orange County
CWS Orange County welcomes refugees, immigrants, and asylum-seekers, offering them support through direct services, advocacy and community-building. Volunteers can assist in various capacities to help new neighbors rebuild their lives in Southern California.
Southern California Immigration Project (SCIP)
SCIP represents asylum seekers who cannot afford legal representation and conducts community outreach. Volunteers can support these efforts by assisting with legal representation and participating in outreach initiatives.
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights
The Young Center serves as Child Advocates for unaccompanied immigrant children across Southern California. Volunteers, aged 21 and over, can become Child Advocates, visiting children in person or virtually, depending on shelter locations. This role involves collaborating with attorneys and social workers to determine and advocate for the best interests of the children.
World Relief Southern California
World Relief offers internships where individuals can assist immigration specialists with clerical work, document translation, and preparation for DACA workshops. Volunteers also have opportunities to engage with refugee children through programs like Little Brushstrokes, an art initiative.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center
This center advances social justice for marginalized immigrant and refugee communities in Southern California through legal services, community empowerment, and advocacy. Volunteers can support their mission by assisting with legal representation and participating in community outreach programs.
Immigration Justice Campaign
The campaign offers various volunteer opportunities, including representing individuals in detention with their asylum cases or bond hearings, providing interpretation for legal representation and supporting detainees as non-attorney visitors. Opportunities are available for both attorneys and individuals with diverse skills.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.