Immigration and Customs Enforcement (colloquially known as ICE) has been circling all around the United States, including the Bay Area–a multicultural hub for Latino and Asian immigrants.
ICE’s intention is to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, as per an executive order by re-elected president Donald Trump, who made anti-immigration sentiment a key angle in his campaign. Mass deportations started in January 2025. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 37,600 people had been deported within a month since Jan. 20, averaging out to around 9,400 per week.
One undocumented immigrant, who chose to remain anonymous, said, “There are parents that are scared to take their kids to school and church. The immigrant parents are worried that one day they will drop off their kids at school or an event and not be able to come back and see them again, scared immigration will detain them.”
These deportations are affecting the immigrants and their families’ everyday lives. Under the Trump administration, ICE has been given permission to go into schools and churches in order to detain those undocumented.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has unanimously reaffirmed its status as an immigrant sanctuary city to prevent local agencies from assisting ICE.
Jocelyn Aguilar ’27 said, “While I think everyone may be scared, it won’t stop them from going out, because at the end of the day, they came to this country for a better future, so not going to work isn’t how they would’ve imagined it.”
The Catholic Church is a staunch supporter of immigrant and refugee rights, calling for their humanity and human dignity to be recognized.
According to an immigrant, who also chose to remain anonymous, “Taking the bus everyday to and from work has been much more worrisome, knowing that the ICE can be on the next bus that I get on, and anything can happen in an instant.”
Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25, one of the leaders for the club Latinos Unidos, says, “It’s just being handled in such an insensitive way…there is no empathy shared for the American people that have been here and worked for this country for the majority of their lives, and it just promotes another way to further polarize the American people.”
On Feb. 16, members of Riordan’s Latinos Unidos participated in a march and rally in support of immigrants that culminated at San Francisco City Hall.
Laila Briceno ’25, leader of the executive board, said, “Latinos Unidos decided to attend the protest because we knew our voices mattered. Staying silent was not an option when our community was being ignored and disrespected.”
According to Briceno, the protest was about “standing up for our rights, for justice, and for the future we deserve. It was about showing that we are strong, united, and unafraid to demand change.”
She added, “During the protest, I felt powerful like every chant, every step, and every sign held the weight of our history and hopes. It wasn’t just a moment; it was a movement.”
Finally, “Seeing so many people fighting for the same cause made me believe that change is possible, and we are the ones making it happen.”
