Story by Evelyn Diaz & Rafa Estolano-Sridharan
Staff Writers

Illustration by Diana Lopez
Staff Illustrator

On Thursday, Jan. 23, Giovanni Duran was detained by ICE agents in front of his two young children while buckling them into the car for their drive to school. Duran, who came to the United States at 2 years old from El Salvador, works two jobs to support his family. He has absolutely no memory of the country he is about to be deported to.

Tragic incidents like this have become more common with Donald Trump back in office. His administration is pushing for mass deportations, claiming they will solve crime, housing shortages, and the cost of living. With this, immigration enforcement has escalated, with ICE raids happening in schools and even places of worship, tearing families apart in the process. While officials claim these actions target violent criminals, many of those arrested have no criminal record at all. 

Those detained by ICE are often sent to overcrowded detention centers, where conditions have been described as “abusive” and “deadly.” These facilities frequently lack proper healthcare, leaving detainees at risk of severe illness and injury. Others are deported with little regard for their well-being, often sent back to dangerous environments where they may face persecution, poverty, or violence. 

The reality of mass deportation policies is far from the promised security and economic stability—they inflict suffering on real people while doing nothing to address the root causes of immigration. Undocumented immigrants play a vital role in the American economy— especially in agriculture and construction industries, where they take jobs that most Americans would not. Their absence will negatively affect these industries, which in turn will increase prices.

Trump’s immigration policies are not just about law enforcement or policy — they reflect a deeper ideology. His past of comparing immigrants to animals and calling them “poison” demonstrates his goal to push a view of America that excludes certain communities. Trump and his allies have a view of America as a nation of and for white people. In this worldview, immigrants coming from Latin America are destroying the sanctity of this white nation. This rhetoric is not just misleading but also dangerous, reinforcing xenophobic narratives that field fear and division. 

Much of the younger generation is not staying silent about the impact of mass deportations. Across the country, students are organizing walkouts, protests, and social media campaigns to push back against Trump’s immigration policies. For many, this issue is personal; they have family members or friends who are undocumented and live in fear of being separated. Young people see these policies as an attack on their communities, and they are demanding change. They are calling for immigration reform, an end to ICE raids, and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. They are saying that they will not accept a system that dehumanizes people and destroys families. 

In a district wide email, SPUSD has reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. SPUSD has protocols in place to protect students and families. If ICE agents were to enter a school campus, district policy requires that they be directed to the district office, where the superintendent or a designated official will review any warrant, consult legal counsel, and proceed in accordance with state and federal law. This policy ensures that SPUSD remains a place where students can focus on their education without fear.

The escalation of deportations under Trump’s administration is not about security or economic stability—it is about fear and exclusion. These policies devastate families, weaken industries, and create a culture of fear that harms communities rather than protecting them. The fight for immigration reform is not just about policy—it is about basic human dignity. America must radically reform our archaic immigration system to help, not hurt, ensuring that this country emphasizes justice, not cruelty.