The Power of the People: Supporting Our Undocumented Communities

29Jul
by Daniela Felix

Rumors of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids have plagued our social media accounts for the last couple of weeks. I am continually witnessing my undocumented family and friends experiencing deep fear and a lack of security while going through their daily routines of attending work and school. No human being should have to live in fear of being torn apart from their family and the place they’ve known as home for years on end. 

The ACLU’s (American Civil Liberties Union) We Have Rights Campaign was designed as a “national immigrant empowerment campaign that will provide critical information to communities threatened by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and engage the broader American public in an urgent conversation about immigrant justice in our country.” The ACLU has put together a basic rundown that overviews the rights that all people, regardless of citizenship status, have and should exercise should they have an encounter with an immigration agent. These resources and videos are available in many languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic, with the goal of being accessible to people of different backgrounds. Additionally, the organization has put together various resources that correspond to different scenarios that people might be in, whether that be having an agent at a front door, or being out in the community and having an encounter. Whatever the case may be, it is crucial that we all become well resourced on the rights of our communities and demand that these rights be protected by all members of our government. 

Now more than ever, members of our undocumented communities may be experiencing heightened anxiety and trauma. This is an issue that impacts us all, not just our undocumented friends and family and because of this, we need to stand together against the attacks on the community. 
The New York Times recently published a great reminder of the power of the people united. During Trump’s Operation Border Resolve, more than 2,000 people were being sought out for deportation. However, due to the massive community outreach and protection efforts, only 35 were apprehended. We must come together to protect one another and send a very clear message that we will not stand for the injustice trying to take place. Whether it’s taking the time to check in on a loved one, attending a rally/protest near you, or getting versed in the rights that our undocumented community members have, we need to join forces and not stand for the inhumane treatment of our fellow humans.

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Daniela Felix

Daniela is a first generation college student who is heavily involved in education in her home district, West Contra Costa Unified. After becoming a mother at a young age, Daniela’s passion for education justice only intensified and she began to fight for an equitable education for all children, regardless of background or zip code. Daniela played a key role in organizing parents with the California Charter Schools Association and is a firm believer in school choice for all families. She is currently a Lead Organizer with Students for Education Reform, organizing college students around education justice issues in her home district. She was recently accepted into Teach for America and plans to continue impacting the lives of children in her hometown of Richmond, CA as a high school social studies teacher. Daniela is a UC Berkeley senior pursuing her B.A. in Legal Studies and Education along with her 4 year old daughter and husband. Daniela is a firm believer in that every single child is capable of meeting high expectations if given the correct support. Daniela hopes to be a provider of that support.

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