What’s Happening With Immigration Raids (and How to Help)
We know readers often come to Cup of Jo for a pick-me-up. But we are following what’s happening in L.A., and spreading across the country — and we imagine you may be, too — and it feels important to talk about. Here’s what’s going on and how to help…
What’s happening in L.A. right now?
Since Friday, crowds in L.A. have been protesting the Trump administration’s new large-scale raids of workplaces, like Home Depot, during which federal agents search for undocumented people.
Why are some immigrants undocumented?
Most immigrants in the U.S. are documented. But some are undocumented.
There are 2.1 million people currently awaiting a decision on their asylum claims. Some people were allowed into the U.S. for humanitarian or national security reasons or because it would be unsafe for them to return home. Some people were admitted to the country on temporary tourist, student or work visas but then overstayed the allowed time period.
Specifically, many people crossing the border are seeking asylum from gang violence in Central America. “Boys as young as eight years old are forced into the gangs. If they or their parents refuse, they are murdered. Young girls are forced to become the property of gang members and treated as sex slaves. If they or their families refuse, they are murdered. The police are unable to help… Parents are fleeing and bringing their children here to rescue them from rape and murder,” says Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an immigration lawyer in Austin.
Why are people so upset about these new workplace raids in L.A. and across the country?
Trump has vowed to crack down hard on immigration, including with mass deportations. ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has tripled their daily arrest targets and, to meet these new quotas, has ramped way up. ICE is now detaining people in workplaces, at day-labor gathering spots, on the streets, and even at their court hearings. In the last few months, ICE has deported people without due process and held people in detention centers, often with abuse and inhumane conditions. ICE has grabbed people off the street without showing badges and smashed car windows without showing warrants. Last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly repealed several rules granting protections to pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants within the migrant detention system.
What has the L.A. mayor said?
“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe — you’re trying to cause fear and panic,” said mayor Karen Bass.
Is it okay to protest these raids or other things the government does?
Absolutely. An essential part of living in a democracy — versus an authoritarian country — is that citizens are allowed to protest and speak out. “Very often, protest is the only way minority voices can be heard,” writes Stephen Jones, Ph.D., a Harvard professor. “Protest is at the core of democratic consciousness, which is why authoritarian governments contain them, condemn them, or repress them.”
How is Trump responding to the protests in L.A.?
Although people have the right to protest, Trump quickly deployed 4,700 National Guard troops and Marines to the L.A. area — without the authorization of the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, who normally has command of the California National Guard. Officers, wearing masks and bulletproof vests, are armed with pepper spray, rubber bullets, batons, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades.
L.A. protestors
National Guard troops, police officers, and Marines, armed with tear gas, batons, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets
A video of an officer shooting a journalist with a rubber bullet — worth watching
What has California’s governor said?
Gavin Newsom called President Trump’s deployment of the military in Los Angeles a “brazen abuse of power,” saying that “democracy is under assault right before our eyes…the moment we’ve feared has arrived.”
Are the L.A. protests peaceful?
The protests have been largely peaceful, but some protestors have thrown eggs, rocks, or other objects at police officers and set cars on fire, including several self-driving Waymo cars. Mayor Karen Bass placed a curfew on one square mile of downtown L.A. on Tuesday night to prevent vandalism and looting. She also points out that most of the city is calm: “Some of the imagery of the protests and the violence gives the appearance as though this is a citywide crisis, and it is not.”
What about all the videos on social media?
As always, it’s important to get your news from trusted publications. A flood of fake images is being strategically circulated online by Trump supporters, in order to stoke anger toward immigrants and confuse people about what’s actually happening, reports the NYTimes. Darren L. Linvill, a researcher at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, said conservatives online were “building up the riots in a performative way” to make it seem like L.A. was taken over by “violent, insurrectionist mobs.”
How about other U.S. cities?
Trump has threatened that protesters elsewhere would be met with “equal or greater force” than those in Los Angeles.
What can we do?
1. Know your rights, and share this info with others. Here are some helpful primers:
* Know Your Rights: Immigrants’ Rights (versions in many languages are available)
* Know Your Rights: Protestors’ Rights
* Know Your Rights: Stopped by Police
* “Know Your Rights With ICE” for people in NYC
2. Protest. This Saturday, June 14th, “No Kings” protests will be happening all around the country. You can find one near you on this map. Again, here is a list of protestors’ rights.
3. Donate, if you’re able to.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights provides essential legal services, advocates for immigrant rights, and promotes policies to improve the lives of immigrants in L.A.
Central American Resource Center L.A. offers legal services, community education, and advocacy for Central American immigrants and other underserved communities in Los Angeles.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center gives free legal services to immigrants. They are also representing detained people and fighting for their release.
Thank you so much for reading and for being such a smart and compassionate community. Please share if you have other ideas for how to help. Sending all our love, as always, and stay safe.
P.S. More news posts, and five pick-me-ups, if you need them.
(Photos by Mark Abramson, Philip Cheung, and Alex Welsh for The New York Times.)
Tags: news
Comments
129 commentsIs i t possible to update this with notes from Chicago? Things are wild, in a terrible way, here.
I just want to thank this blog for posting on the current political climate in our country. Cup of Jo and Emily Henderson are the only blogs I read anymore. The rest of the bloggers I previously read act as if nothing is happening – they keep linking amazon and target and would rather post about their up coming vacation then address what is happening to people in our country (or even mention it). So I am no longer clicking. For the first time in my life, I have become someone who cares where my money goes and my time. As a speaker said at our local “No Kings” protest, you cannot stand on the sidelines, you must pick a side. So, for me, if you aren’t writing about it then you either: support it or care more about revenue than lives. Thanks, Jo! <3
Exactly my sentiments, influencers who do not use their platform to speak up against this craven administration’s behavior have lost my respect. I’ve unfollowed them.
Thank you.
We protested in Dayton, OH with our five year old daughter. There was absolutely no violence. Just a lot of people gathering to support democracy.
Thank you, Joanna.
Donated today to the Immigrant Defenders Law Center and ACLU! Thank you for the information and inspiration.
Joanna thank you for this space to exchange ways to stay engaged. From a comment back in February I learned about an an awesome action- oriented substack called chop wood, carry water. From that I learned about Visibility Brigade- protests with big letter messages that people were doing on bridges. I’ve since started a visibility brigade in my town and the spark was this blog 💜 Here’s my group’s IG https://www.instagram.com/kalamazoovisibilitybrigade/ And here’s the main Visibility Brigade website with toolkit to start your own :) https://www.visibilitybrigade.com/
that is so cool!
Thank you so much for this post and for supporting our immigrant our migrant neighbors.
Thank you for this post. One thing that I have found particularly terrifying is that many people are convinced that there is widespread violence and looting that has engulfed the city of Los Angeles. This is not the case. Life here is very normal. There has been virtually no disruption for 99.9% of residents. That is not an exaggeration. This is a sprawling city with a population of almost 4 million. When you throw in the smaller independent cities and unincorporated areas that number gets closer to 20 million. There is a one square mile area of downtown under a curfew. This misinformation spread by videos of a few isolated incidents is so troubling.
Thank you, Joanna, for using your platform to speak out, *and* for not demonizing the protesters! I am grateful for this space.
Same! I protested in Seattle and it was an incredible gathering of love and support. I felt so inspired and hopeful after.
If nothing else, start where you are: be a good neighbor. Read to a child. Greet people (even if just a smile), let people in traffic, hold the door — etc., etc., etc. Peacefully protest & patronize small businesses and/or farms & ranches where you know people of all stripes work hard to grow/make/serve food. Vote with your dollar, and watch your local school board like a hawk. Consider running. Donate banned books or start a book club, both! I have faith we will meet & surmount this moment, together.
Thank you!
Thank you, CoJ. This reminds me why I’ve been a reader since the beginning.
Thank you for this post.
Thank you so much for this. I have to keep reminding myself to be brave – that courage is contagious and we have to speak up while we still can. I joined a No Kings Pre-Mobilization call yesterday and there was a lot of great info including how to prepare yourself for tomorrow’s protests: https://www.youtube.com/live/TT-SzxDtcMY?si=W9KbfdFQ_P6DYor9. I thought the ACLU Know Your Rights portion was particularly helpful (starting at 37:40). See you tomorrow!
Thanks Jo! I’ll be out protesting in Plymouth tomorrow.
I’m so glad you shared this. I am not on any social media, in an effort to protect my time and mental health. But because of that, I often don’t hear about the protests. Thanks to this post, I’ll now be protesting tomorrow.
Looking forward to marching with my community tomorrow!
Thank you so much.
Thank you for continuing to draw attention to these issues in a calm, clear manner. I always find the CoJ helps me sort through the noise and focus on what I can actually do to help versus get caught up in just the outrage. I really appreciate it.
Thank you. Will see you Saturday!
I am watching in horror at what’s happening int he US from Europe. I refuse to put a foot in the country I have visited in the past as a tourist because I fear for my safety and dignity as a foreigner, so I do appreciate the information. The fact that you feel the need to answer the question” Is it okay to protest these raids or other things the government does?” has sent a chill down my spine. My parents generation in Spain suffered 40 years of dictatorship and I can see the real risk of such dictatorships creeping in in places where democracy was well established. Believe me, your freedom is well worth fighting for. Sending you strength.
Cup of Jo is the only OG blog left with a moral compass. Thank you, as always, for using your platform for good. Some of our best friends are undocumented and I am so glad that there are people like you raising your voice in their defense.
Thank you so very, very much. I am an immigration lawyer at a nonprofit. I work with immigrant survivors of domestic violence and the level of terror my clients are experiencing right now, and the absolute bad faith lawlessness of every government agency dealing with immigration right now, is like nothing I have ever experienced in many years of practice. I am grateful for CoJ for using this platform to highlight the abuses of ICE and the need for all of us to speak up and stand up with love against those abuses.
Given that immigrants are leaving terrible conditions in their home country and they’re experiencing terror in the US, do you think this will curb immigration to the US? Do your clients want to go elsewhere now? I know there oftentimes isn’t a choice, but I wondered why people would want to come to the US under this administration.
My senator was handcuffed today by Noem’s goons. I lived through Vietnam and Watergate. This is so much worse. One of our political parties is pretending that everything is just fine. Media is lying, complicit or asleep at the wheel. What’s worse than the politicians and others in power are the cadre of minions in masks gleefully carrying out orders. People said we were overreacting by calling them fascists and Nazis. Were we? FFS.
That Sen Padilla was treated this way is an abomination. He clearly stated who he was and he was not pushing back. It’s very clear on the video. This is a man who cares deeply about the immigrants in this country. Find the MSNBC interview with him yesterday where he talks about what the various immigrants who work on farms, in factories, in restaurants bring to this country. I am ashamed to be an American given what is going on with the so-called President (He took an oath to obey the Constitution. He is not doing that. Worse, he has stated, publicly, when asked if he has to obey the Constitution, that he is not sure. WTF? You are not sure? Really. Then you must have dementia worse than you claim Biden has. He should have been impeached on the spot. He forgot he took an oath of office? What is going on now in this country is unprecedented and dangerous. Too many people just letting it happen. The Republicans in Senate and Congress who support an unlawful president who tries to intimidate and threatens ANYONE (Except those “patriots” who stormed the Capital and KILLED people, who he gave a pardon to!) who disagrees with him. No freedom of speech under trump. No rights, no due course of law…he wants to abolish it all. Innocent men, women and children, NOT criminals , just kidnapped in churches, stores, schools. No due process of law because Trump thinks he is above the law and basically Supreme Court has agreed (WTF? Those who voted for that? OUT OUT OUT?) I am beyond sickened by us losing our democracy, piece by piece, and I am sick of fellow “citizens” who support anarchy in all its forms by Trump by not by legitimate protestors. An Australian journalist, live, on camera, was specifically targeted (shows an officer of some kind in the video, turning and shooting her with a rubber bullet. She was not protesting, she was not rioting, she was reporting.) This is UNACCEPTABLE. Journalists are targeted meanwhile his press secretary spews out lie after lie after lie and attacks those journalists who dare to challenge her comments.
As a Canadian watching from the other side of our border, I am horrified at the videos that I see online. I am proud of this website and this post.
Thank you for sharing all this helpful info!
Here is Heather Cox Richardson responding to today’s events, and emphasizing the need to stay engaged. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c0OBfuiFbI
Commenting merely to boost what everyone else has said – thank you so much, COJ team. I’m pregnant after multiple losses and spend most of my days terrified….but I will be going to the protests on Sunday because I can (completely understand that not everyone can!). How will I look my future child in the face if I don’t? Knowing that so many from this loving community will be on the streets, too, makes me feel a bit braver.
Love this post and your political, practical content. We live in a world where we want to bake cake, talk about relationships, look at cool nails, AND be real about our terror at impending authoritarianism. All these things are part of living. See y’all on the streets Saturday!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this important post.
Thank you for being a voice of truth. While most of America thought LA was a rioting mess earlier this week- I was a mile from downtown chaperoning turtle day at my daughter’s preschool and responding to texts from friends and family elsewhere hoping we were safe. It’s made me question news in other instances when I’m not able to see first hand what the truth of the situation actually is.
Yep! Same. I live 5 miles from downtown and we were doing library storytimes and kids museums and just all normal kid stuff! im currently on the bus home from Mumford and sons at the Hollywood bowl-LA is not on fire
I’m a Californian and I’ve side-eyed coverage of California disasters for years, the news really amplifies the victim-hood part of disaster and rarely talks about how people take things in stride and help each other.
Thank you for this compassionate clear explanation <3
Some reminders: 1. Being an undocumented immigrant is a CIVIL offense, not a CRIMINAL offense – right alongside other civil offenses like jay-walking or speeding. 2. Protests do not need to be peaceful when the forces of power are and will be violent. Violent protests gave us workers rights, gay rights, voting rights, and civil rights. 3. Every debate about ‘good vs. bad’ protestors distracts from the real issue: STATE VIOLENCE 4. Immigrants do not need to be defended simply because of their ‘hard work’ and ‘labor’ – they should be valued because they are humans.
These are all great points, thank you!
Amen
I am so glad you said this. My mother was an undocumented immigrant before she finally got documents. She lived alone and must have lived in fear. We were far away in India. She passed away some years ago. I think often about her loneliness and courage which was for us. She was not a criminal. I thank everyone who stands with those who are alone, as she was. And I agree. Violent protests have brought good change because often enough it is the only meaningful response to the endless violence perpetrated against people.
Women were called violent & lawless and subsequently beat & jailed when we protested for the simple right to vote!!!
Amen amen
Amen!
Thank you for this!!
This is exactly what Trump did to us in DC during BLM: He used police nad military force against peaceful protesters to escalate democractic protest into violence against the public. Then he strategically flipped the narrative and said it was voilent. I was there: I know it was largely peaceful. There were kids, grandmas, sit ins. We see you LA! This is military misuse and violence of an authoritarian regime over peaceful, democratic protesters who STILL live in a democracy and are not willing to give that up.
To all my immigrant friends, colleagues, family, and fellow readers out there: We see you, we love you, we are grateful to you: to the work you do, the love you bring, the beautiful families you build here. We’re grateful for the way in which you’ve made America truly great. And I hope that one day she repays you fully and respects you fully. Many of us do.
Thank you so much, Jo. I’m constantly proud to support you and to exist within the caring community you’ve created. For any CoJ loves who are in LA who may have been injured by local, state, and federal government agencies in the past few days, ACLU SoCal has an intake page here: https://www.aclusocal.org/en/let-us-know-were-you-injured-police-while-protesting-southern-california-recently. So if you, or someone close to you, has been subjected to excessive force at the hands of the police, sheriff’s deputies, ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, the military, or the National Guard while protesting in Los Angeles or other parts of Southern California this month, please fill out this form: https://www.aclusocal.org/en/let-us-know-were-you-injured-police-while-protesting-southern-california-recently.
Thank you Jo an Co for this post, and thanks to the COJ community for the always wonderful comments. This entire community provides light (and thoughtful discourse) and helps me take heart.
I can’t believe Senator Padilla was just thrown to the ground and handcuffed for speaking out at the press conference. We are living in frightening times, and things are escalating rapidly.
Honestly your country needs to protest and protest hard. This is only 6 months in and look at the chaos. The world is doing what it can by boycotting American products and travel. It’s time for Americans to get off Instagram and get this administration out!
This is deeply a frustrating comment to read as an American who is protesting, who is calling, who is donating. Please do NOT assume because you don’t see all the actions that none are happening. Please do NOT assume everyone is on insta looking at outfits or giggling over some hot nonsense. So many Americans ARE WORKING TO DO WHAT WE CAN and this is just so unhelpful to say and unhelpful to read.
Kay, I hear you but the truth is too many aren’t getting involved!!! I keep inviting my huge network to join me and if I hear “Thanks for representing” ONE more time, I’m going to scream. Seriously? It’s not convenient for anyone! But fascism is way more inconvenient. I’m not stopping my efforts but people better have damn good reasons for not showing up!!!
Kay – sounds like you are doing so much and I hope more people join you.
Agreed, Maureen. It’s frustrating to constantly hear “do better!” “Get in the streets!” — as if people aren’t already doing that and so much more. And in my case also showing up in my job as a teacher, providing food for the little free pantry in my neighborhood, serving on the PTA at my child’s title 1 public school, talking to neighbors, and on and on and on. People are working constantly, in ways big and small, and yet the feeling of never doing “enough” haunts me as I get in bed each night terrified for what the future holds for my (and all) children. Comments like this are deeply unhelpful to those of us stuck in this mess. I appreciate Jo’s recommendations for where to help, how to help, and why to help, much more than entreaties to somehow nebulously “get this administration out”.
The world is doing what it can and Americans – are doing nothing? I’m not on social media, but maybe you want to switch up who you’re “following” so your algorithm switches up what you’re seeing. Someone please tell me they understand that Instagram is not a reputable source of news, and legacy media is not covering the real, hard work of everyday Americans resisting authoritarian.
Although I think this is a pretty unkind comment at a time when a lot of people are doing a lot, I also think that work is not being reflected in the news—the hands off protesters might have been the largest in US history but you would definitely not know based on the extremely scant media coverage. It was scary to see just how much the narrative is being controlled (I think many individual journalists are working hard and this is a decision made at very high levels of corporate journalism). And while I bristle at this comment, people DO need to do more. Places like France grind things to a halt when the government even tries to raise college tuition, and that tradition has preserved a lot of things for their country.
Katie, I think about this a lot — how, as you say, places like France will grind things to a halt. I see that, too, but I don’t think people abroad always understand or wrap their heads around how truly enormous the U.S. is. for example, the U.S. is 18x larger than France, and France is the biggest country in Europe. a national protest across multiple cities has to be organized and communicated well, and messaging has to be spread, and it’s SO HARD and takes SO MANY resources. people in the U.S. DO rise to the huge task, of course — e.g., the women’s march, no kings, etc — but it’s a much bigger and different kind of task than it would be if the U.S. were a lot smaller. This is something I think is useful to recognize when you’re wondering whether people in the U.S. care about what’s going on (we very much do!!!!). See you on the streets this weekend!! xoxo
It’s complicated. (1) People are doing more than is shown, because the algorithms ARE suppressing and mainstream media is far from the whole story. (2) Most people need to do much more (myself included). (3) It’s going to take more than protests. I think Europe takes protests a little more seriously than our country does. We respond to different thing here, IMO. But as someone who does protest, I’d love to see stats saying otherwise. It’s also logistics. European countries are the size of US states—often smaller. It’s much easier to get a focused group and energy in a small land mass with only a few major cities. I’m over 1000 miles from DC and over 1000 miles from Los Angeles. Many Americans have never been to either city and never will. That said: It is past due to skip the “do you/self care” mental health mentality that took hold during Covid and start shaming the hell out of any able-bodied person in our circles who does not show up or try harder. I find group texting small groups of people to do a specific action always gets a few to show up. People need to be asked. That’s where we are.
Thank you so much for sharing all this info, Joanna. It’s a scary time and it’s absolutely crucial that we show up for our neighbors and reassert the rights that are a cornerstone of our democracy. I’m looking forward to attending a local protest. The people united will never be defeated!
See you on the Streets! I’ll be there. <3
As an Australian I can’t help thinking the time to stand up for American values was by voting. It is hard to believe we have another three and a half years of this chaos because Donald Trump a convicted felon was democratically voted in as President. While it is heartbreaking it was all highly predictable.
And suggest this as a valuable tool, for those who may protest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWEpW6KOZDs
YES!! Love this
Gratitude to you and this community!
As someone who came to this country (on a visa) at 6 years old, immigrating wasn’t really my choice. My parents did everything by the book as they were on their way to becoming permanent residents, until it was found out our lawyer at the time was doing shady things to some of his cases and was thus apprehended. Right after, 9/11 happened and everything slowed down. Long story short, because the lawyer was a criminal, my parents, who are pastors, had their case denied, even though they did nothing wrong. I grew up in this country. I’m now in my 30s. Because of this scenario, I am somewhat protected, but my parents aren’t anymore. It’s terribly frustrating to hear that the way that I can become fully “legal” is through marriage. The only reality I know is that the U.S is my home even though I may have been born in another country and share a different culture. I’m currently moving back to my home state to be closer to my parents because they are terrified and with due reason, honestly. It’s hard to read about these things in the news and not allow fear to take over. As an only child, the pressure is on to try to do everything in my power to make sure my parents will be ok and to calculate alternative scenarios for all the “what ifs” and to hold their hand through the unknown. I personally don’t even know what will happen to me either. I know I can be resilient and can live frankly in a ton of different countries and be fine, but how I get there to those countries, I just hope it is my choice.
Thinking of you tonight, sending you love, and sending you + your parents thanks for being people who contribute so much to our country. <3
Thank you for this. I am glad to know others feel similar. Will be donating and protesting where and when I can, as well as sharing this post with others. I appreciate that you are willing to take a stand when many other blogs and sites just do business as usual and pretend the world is not on fire.
Really appreciate this post- it inspired me to reach out to friends and attend one of the No Kings protest on Saturday, and to keep my eye out for ways to get engaged. Thank you CoJ for taking a stand and helping to educate!
Thank you. I am a spiritual teacher and each quarter when I tally my income to pay my estimated quarterly taxes, I donate 5% of that as a personal tithing practice. For this quarter I’ve given to CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. I’ll be sharing with my students that I-and-we have done this and encouraging more giving. So your good inspires mine inspires more. Better, better. I hope this is how love wins. I deeply admire the way you have developed your political presence. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
have you guys seen this? https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKz5yM-JNim/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Horrific
My blood is boiling.
Thank you for posting this! As I read it, I was thinking of a recent NYT opinion piece where M. Gessen talked about the concept of taking up all the space that’s still available to us (for protest, action, etc.): “[As journalists in Russia,] over the years, invariably, we would look back every few years to where we had been a year ago, two years ago, 10 years ago, and think: Wow, there was so much possibility for action. There was still so much we could do. “I mean, at this point, Russian independent journalists are looking at where they were four years ago and thinking, wistfully: Wow, when I could still have access to actual living people in the actual country that I’m covering, that was an amazing possibility for doing journalism, now that I live in exile and can’t go back. I think we can actually build on this life-affirming impulse to say we need to take advantage of all the space that is available at any given point. We know what we’re dealing with: We’re dealing with an anti-democratic force that aims to continuously reduce the space available for action, whether it’s action by journalists or action by lawyers or action by academics. For any group of us to act in our particular fields, that space is shrinking, and so when we find our footing after a shock, we need to take stock of the space that’s available and take advantage of all of it.” (Gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/opinion/trump-shock-exhaustion.html?unlocked_article_code=1.OU8.AS1O.-G_YU4MhRKsp&smid=url-share)
Yes! It’s such a powerful reminder of what we keep losing when we don’t speak up.
YES! This was such a good piece. It really reminded me that its not just our right to protest, its our duty. We have been so lucky to live (and for me, be born in) a democracy. I was handed this democracy, I’ve benefitted from it. And now, its’ being crippled: People who have legally sought asylum or come here on student visas are being disappeared; the military is being weaponized against the public to quiet peaceful protest; the executive branch is ignoring court orders and acting illegally and with disregard for checks and balances of other branches (and limiting free press in ways this country has never seen before). We are rapidly declining in our status as a democracy. As a proud American – I have the right to protest, but also the duty. For so long, we’ve taken democracy for granted, just as Germans in the 30s did. Now is the time to be clear: we’re not giving it up easily. To all my immigrant friends, colleagues, and family out there: We see you, we love you, we are grateful to you: to the work you do, the love you bring, the beautiful families you build here. We’re grateful for the way in which you’ve made America truly great. And I hope that one day she repays you fully and respects you fully. Many of us do.
Thank you. This comment is very inspiring and motivating. I needed it.
For those attending No Kings this Saturday (yay!), there is concern that Proud Boys, racists and Anti Democracy instigators will attend the larger protests in an attempt to make it look aggressive. We saw it happen during Black Lives Matter when magical piles of bricks showed up in front of a police station (smartly, no one touched it). And we know from LA that Trump is itching for a reason to deploy the military. They are saying if you see anyone behave this way, everyone should **immediately sit down** to spotlight them. I went to my first protest ever at HandsOff. I was surprised to find how joyous, warm and welcoming it was. You can absolutely go alone and people will welcome you! There are over 2000 protests across the country (not hundreds according to news). To find the closest one, please check http://www.nokings.org/#map
I recommend yesterday’s episode of The Daily as they do a ride along on some ICE raids. It is so chilling to hear the fear and confusion and despair from folks being ambushed and their families being torn apart. I can’t imagine how terrifying it must be to have your spouse pulled out of your car and taken away in front of you. In addition to all the hurt it is causing, what a tremendous misuse of time and resources and money. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/podcasts/the-daily/inside-a-trump-ice-raid.html
Yes! They are emboldened to do what they want. And they are sloppy! If you don’t think you and your family can’t be affected by these illegal raids, listen to the stories of people whose homes were wrongfully (and accidentally) raided. They are an emboldened hateful mess!!!
Thank you for such an important post
Thanks for putting this together. I notice some of the commenters are referring to some immigrants as “illegal.” Please, please do not use this word to describe human beings. People cannot be illegal. If you need to talk about someone’s immigration status, then please refer to that, as specifically as possible. For example, “ICE agents have mistakenly detained hundreds of immigrants with legal authorization to be in the U.S.” OR “The majority of immigrants in the U.S. are employed and paying state and federal taxes, regardless of their formal immigration status.” People cannot be illegal. Thank you!
Thank you Katie! xo
100000%
YES!! Thank you!!
This correction reminded me of this t-shirt made to raise money by South Dakota Voices for Peace. I believe it was created several years ago when, then governor, Kristi Noem made a comment referring to people as “illegal”. https://www.bonfire.com/no-human-is-illegal-5/?productType=1d7eda58-3af0-46b5-a3fa-1fe8158a9fbe
Thank you!!! And a further reminder that simply being here without documentation is NOT A CRIME and does not make a person a criminal, as ruled by the Supreme Court in Arizona v. the United States. There is a difference between civil violations and criminal violations.
Thank you for posting about this. I volunteer representing folks who seek asylum. Asylum seekers actually are “documented.” That is, they’re working their way through the US immigration system according to the US government’s requirements. Some asylum seekers arrive at the US border and tell border agents they are requesting asylum. These folks are subject to intense physical examinations and are (or should be) given something called a “credible fear interview” during which a US gov’t interviewer asks them about why they want asylum and decides whether their fear is credible. Other asylum seekers visit the US on a visa and, before their visa expires, they apply for asylum and go through a slightly different set of physical requirements and interviews. People apply for asylum because their home governments are persecuting them or allowing them to be persecuted. The rules for applying for asylum in the US are pretty clear and long-established. To receive asylum, you have to show in very intimate detail how you’ve been persecuted. Going through the process often takes years – not because the immigrant wants it to, but because of how slow the US government processes their applications. I have clients who have been seeking asylum for more than a decade. Sometimes they get married and have children. Sometimes they get divorced. Sometimes they start businesses. I mean – imagine all the things that have happened to you and the people you care about over the last decade – of course, any/all of those have happened to my clients, too. Imagine living somewhere for years and doing everything according to all the rules set before you – even when those rules are challenging, opaque, and not meant to see you succeed. Imagine doing all that *because you have been tortured where you grew up.* That’s what my clients do, and have done. And now, when they’re still following all the rules, they’re showing up in court and having judges not read their paperwork, dismiss their cases without giving a reason, and then being violently arrested in the hallway outside the courtroom. They’re then being taken to …well, sometimes no one knows. I’m scared to go to my hearings. I can only imagine how my clients feel.
Thank you for doing this incredibly important work. I’ve also worked with many asylum seekers. We should be welcoming refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers (and international students!) with open arms and showing them care. Instead we dehumanize and re-traumatize. Community has always been and will always be where the compassion lies and we need to rely on it more than ever. Big hugs to all who are doing the good work, showing up in whatever way you can.
Thank you so much for doing what you do and for sharing a peek into the lived experiences of the people you help for our collective education!
Thank you so much for sharing this important explanation. A family we are good friends with has been going through the asylum and citizenship application process for more than 20 years now and has experienced an ICE raid of her home, the 5 year detention and ultimate deportation of her husband to a country that is extremely unsafe, purchased a home, watched both her children graduate high school and excellent universities, and consistently worked two jobs. She has spent so much time and money on immigration attorneys and legal fees and been given the runaround throughout the entire process. It’s devastating. I wish more people understood how incredibly difficult it is to seek asylum or citizenship in the US, and that the vast majority of seekers *are* documented, going through the process by the letter, contributing to the economy and paying taxes, working long hours and often multiple jobs, and all while being subject to racism and xenophobia.
Thank you so much for this. Watching what is unfolding across our country makes me sick to my stomach. I cannot believe any of this is allowed to happen. I really appreciate you calling attention to this on your platform and providing resources for action and donations.
@May. Please let us know If these alternate Republicans choose to protest publicly vs. whispering amongst themselves.
Thank you for this! I think it’s important to remember (and state publicly during demonstrations, etc) that the all Republicans in power are culpable for what is happening. It’s not just Trump,
You are wrong. Thousands of republicans abhor what is being done, and do not support the president’s actions. Please don’t drag innocent people into the ugliness POTUS has created. Doing that makes the matter worse.
Yes! This is a Republican assault on democracy, not a Trump one. They could stop this anytime but they won’t because they like what is happening.
@May anyone who voted for Republicans chose this. The Republican Party was pretty blunt in their campaign message that they were going after immigrants using any force necessary. The entirety of Republican-led Congress refuses to use stop-measures to counteract Trump. Anyone who claims to be a Republican voter but not choosing this obviously hasn’t been paying attention.
What Emily said — and then some. May, with all due respect (which is already more than Republicans tend to extend to anyone they view as beneath them), claiming you’re a “good Republican” is like my Oma saying she joined the Hitler Youth just to go along with the crowd. Sorry, but if that’s your defense, you’re not some principled outlier — you’re complicit. History won’t make exceptions for polite enablers.
It is the Heritage Foundation and Christian Nationalists executing their decades long operation. Republicans and Trump fell for their propaganda and are their puppets. Republicans allowed it to happen. Trump never should have been considered a candidate. Republicans chose this by majority. There used to be a wider divide between MAGA and Republicans but MAGA has dominated the party since Trump 1.0. Republicans in Congress continuously refuse to pressure this administration. In my county, the Republican Party chair continuously makes messages about how his GOAL is to remove all Democrats from existing in the county. I wish/hope that Republicans would rise up to denounce these actions AS A PARTY but they do not. And until they do, it is Republicans.
@Karen redeeming the name Karen!
I think right now it is very important that we find ways to be open to people who may share different views than us on most things but can agree that what is happening right now is wrong. If we alienate people who voted for Trump or who are Republican what is the point of trying to get people to change their mind or maybe be more open about what they think? The truth is Trump isn’t popular but he is still more popular than the Sentate/House and likely still would win again even if the election was held today. He also had many immigrants support him. (welcome to my family and work) I think automatically dividing along Party lines right now is dangerous. We need to look for how many people can agree that this is wrong. Right now what is happening is wrong and if you agree with this we can be on the same side. I literally do not care if you voted for Trump or are a Republican or a Democrat or are apolitical. We all need to say that this is wrong and I personally welcome anyone who can say that. All Americans need to stand up no matter our affiliation and say this is wrong. This is literally the only way we can change things. Alienation will not help. If you are a Republican who isn’t on board with this nonsense you have a particular power to stand up and I will support you 100%. And also, thank you. Together is the best path forward and there hasn’t been a lot of together lately which is part of the reason we are in this mess imo.
I voted for Harris like many other republican did. The screen of negative remarks against me, the assumptions and insults are shameful. If that is what y’all have to offer those of us that are outraged by the way immigrants are being treated, then y’all might consider what good your insults accomplish. I pray for people with your attitude and hold no ill will.
Hey Louise—do Republicans show grace and empathy to people they disagree with? No—they shackle children, deport kids with cancer, rip families apart, and celebrate the cruelty. Trump didn’t invent their worst instincts—he just gave them license to unleash them. I’m done playing nice or seeking “common ground” with people who need cult-level deprogramming just to see straight—if they ever do. And May—welcome to the resistance. No need to carry water for Republicans. A fascist by any other name is still a fascist. Sorry, boo.
@ May – I just want to point out that AJ’s original message said “all the Republicans *in power* are culpable” – not all the Republicans in the world. I think they were talking about senators, representatives, governors, etc who have the power and opportunity to fight back against Trump’s abuses of power and are not doing so.
@Alana, yes, thank you for clarifying. I do agree with many of the points made here in response to my original comment. The people who voted for this administration are also responsible for the horror that is unfolding. However, in my original comment, I was focusing on Republicans in power (congressional Republicans, etc)
@May – unfortunately, identifying as Republican no longer simply means you have conservative values. At this point in time in 2025, the Republican party stands for something MUCH worse. Full stop.
I read something the other day that made me pull back on my comment. At this point, to get ahead of this fascist takeover, we are no longer Republican or Democrat. We are either pro-democracy or not. And if that includes Republicans, I am all for it. It is difficult to watch so many so-called Republicans in power forget their oath, wear Trump pins, and vote for abhorrent policies. If our pro-democracy comrades continue to vote for pro-democracy Republicans into positions of power, it is a great thing. I hope that the Republican Party still has these in popular enough positions to win local to federal elections. I wish the party was pressuring those already in “power” to align against Trump and the Heritage Foundation and stop this maddness.
Thank you for this post and for summarizing what’s going on. A few additional notes from a proud Californian: Even if you normally aren’t a huge fan of Gavin Newson, his speech on Tuesday night was exactly what was needed – very clear words, expressing what many of us are thinking. (And yes, he did dine at a fancy restaurant during Covid, thanks Republicans for beating that dead horse again, but it does not diminish his leadership at this time when most other politicians have been afraid to step up). I would like to emphasize that LAPD did arrest violent protesters who set cars on fire and the like – this behavior is feeding into Trump’s rhetoric; it gives Fox News something negative to report. Thanks to a previous commenter for recommending support to the LA Regional FoodBank.
it is also a good thing to remember that no one can be illegal on stolen land aka all of Turtle Island xoxoxo
❤️
Gratitude for this post! Thank you for explaining everything and providing resources to help. What is happening in our country is tragic and deplorable.
I love my beautiful city and I appreciate anyone taking the time to counteract disinformation about what’s going on here—if it weren’t for the unilateral, unprovoked, illegal actions of ICE, the National Guard, and LAPD, we would have had a week like any other. People all over the city are rising up in opposition to the violent kidnappings of our neighbors and community members, which is important and beautiful for our city in a moment that is ugly and shameful for our nation. Aside from the organizations in this post, if you want to help out, please donate *money* to the LA Regional Food Bank. It’s unsafe for so many Angelenos to show up at work or even claim benefits right now, so people will be relying on food banks to survive. Alsoooo if, at any point, you find yourself concerned about *property damage* caused by protest… please take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why you care about the poor little driverless Waymos more than the human rights violations being waged by the federal government on its own people. We are in a crisis! We are not going to survive until the next election if we don’t resist!! Resistance is not meant to be comforting or convenient or without cost!!!
Huge agreement with everything you’ve said. 100%. It’s fascism and tyranny and it’s our duty to resist. Americans are Americans, I don’t care about where they were born or what status the government has declared them. Human beings with human rights. If anyone cares about decency, justice, law and order and is anti corruption, clear out congress, the Supreme Court and the white house.
Thank you for bringing up food bank donations! More and more people rely on them as safe places to get food, and with both the decrease in food stamps and the decrease in USDA funding for food banks things are going to get even tougher for people to be fed.
Can confirm! All of our food banks are in need right now. Increased demand and decreased sources of funding (I’m just a distribution volunteer, so I can’t offer more specifics on how we receive our funding but I can tell you the lines are long and we aren’t able to offer as much as we have been able to in the past).
Thank you, Jo.
Thanks for posting this.
Yes! Thank you.
Thank you, Joanna for always keeping your content on point and addressing the important issues in politics, the government and the wold! It takes a courageous and caring person to so and your information is such an amazing guideline for your readers!
Bravo for taking the streets, it is necessary to feel and see that people are angry. Talk can come later. Thinking of you in solidarity.
Thank you for this info and summarizing in the way you did. So helpful <3
Agreed- very clear and concise.
If you are aware of a raid happening, you can get help here: https://www.ccijustice.org/rapid-response You can also buy a t-shirt to show support and support legal services for migrants: https://www.immdef.org/product-page/no-immigrant-stands-alone-tee
Thank you, Aimee! I just bought two tshirts!
Thank you for consistently keeping these topics in your space. This affects everyone in such a negative way, we need to keep our eyes and ears open to truth and reality.
Thank you for this!