In June, a South Los Angeles tamale vendor, along with her husband and a customer, was detained by federal immigration agents, igniting a robust response from a multiracial group of neighbors. The community organized a march and vigil to protest the arrests and gather donations for the affected families. Participants collectively mourned and honored those impacted, showcasing a spirit of unity among diverse racial and ethnic groups in the face of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
In the weeks following the incident, residents have engaged in discussions and planning sessions in backyards and community spaces aimed at mutual protection and reclaiming their streets. These efforts reveal how individuals from various backgrounds are coming together to support one another amid expanding immigration enforcement.
According to interviews conducted by Block Club Chicago and LA Public Press, residents from both cities are focused on fostering multiracial solidarity and providing care for families affected by heightened immigration enforcement. For many, the presence of Border Patrol and ICE signifies a harsh reality of state violence that Black communities, including Black immigrants, have long endured.
Enrique Gaspar, an organizer with the anti-poverty nonprofit Community Coalition, emphasized the importance of solidarity, stating, “We made a plan to protect ourselves. Because an attack against one of us is a strike against all of us. We need to confront ICE terror together.” Following a surge in immigration arrests in South Los Angeles, primarily affecting Black and Latine residents, the community initiated a “Reclaim Our Streets” campaign to educate immigrants about their legal rights and offer support to those impacted by raids.
In addition to organizing against ICE activities, residents have united to advocate for rent control in Los Angeles and canvassed neighborhoods for support of Proposition 50. The Community Coalition has also been instrumental in providing food and mutual aid to neighbors who fear venturing outside due to their immigration status. Gaspar highlighted the necessity of standing together, regardless of racial identity or citizenship status, as the violent actions of federal agents pose a threat to all.
The demographic landscape of South Los Angeles has shifted significantly over the years, transitioning from a predominantly Black area to one with a substantial Latin American immigrant population. This change reflects broader national trends, where gentrification and disinvestment have displaced Black communities. Despite historical tensions, opportunities for mutual aid and solidarity have emerged.
Gaspar, who previously worked as a newspaper editor in Mexico, acknowledged the challenges of building multiracial solidarity, including cultural and language barriers. He noted that addressing anti-Blackness within Latinx communities is crucial for fostering deeper connections. “The only way to rid ourselves of it is through education,” he stated.
The impact of immigration enforcement extends beyond the Latinx community. Data from the Black Alliance for Justice Immigration indicates that Black immigrants, while constituting only 5.4 percent of the undocumented population, represented 20 percent of immigrants facing deportation due to criminal convictions. The report underscores the intersection of immigration enforcement and anti-Black policing, with many Black immigrants facing severe consequences due to their interactions with law enforcement.
Maraky, a member of the Black Alliance for Justice Immigration, remarked, “The ICE dragnet makes all Black people vulnerable. Immigration enforcement is an extension of anti-Black policing. We’re overpoliced and oversentenced.” The organization has been actively supporting Black immigrants in Los Angeles since the onset of intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
The shared struggles of Black and Latine communities have fostered recent examples of solidarity, drawing from historical alliances such as those between the Brown Berets and the Black Panthers. Maraky emphasized that this solidarity must be reciprocal, stating, “We have this shared class struggle that requires us to be able to be in solidarity with one another.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has faced calls to prevent the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from aiding ICE operations. Critics argue that LAPD’s actions during immigration arrests, including traffic control and confrontations with protesters, indicate complicity with federal agents. While a spokesperson for Bass stated that the LAPD is prohibited from assisting in immigration enforcement, questions remain regarding the department’s conduct in specific incidents.
As discussions about the historical context of policing and immigration enforcement gain traction, residents like Joan Agoh, an organizer with the Black Alliance for Peace, draw parallels between ICE raids and the long history of violence against Black communities in the United States. Agoh described the systemic targeting of immigrants as echoing past injustices, saying, “As Black folks in the United States, we know intimately what it is to be walking down the street and to be stopped simply for the color of your skin.”
In Chicago, the landscape reflects similar dynamics. At La Tiendita, a “free store” operating out of an African Methodist Episcopal church, residents from diverse backgrounds engage with one another amid changing demographics. Porsha Weekly, a volunteer at the store, recounted her journey from initial discomfort to finding common ground with Latine residents. “We see community and love and giving,” she noted, highlighting the importance of mutual support.
In neighborhoods such as South Chicago and East Side, residents are responding collectively to immigration enforcement. The area has a history of racial and cultural diversity, with initiatives like rapid response teams mobilizing to alert communities about ICE presence. Eva Maria Lewis, founder of the violence prevention nonprofit Free Root Operation, emphasized the need for solidarity among communities of color, stating, “Who else is going to look out for us?”
Despite challenges like anti-Blackness and resource scarcity, community members are beginning to recognize their interconnected struggles. Weekly described her transformation from skepticism to active participation in La Tiendita, fostering relationships with Latine residents and embracing a spirit of collaboration.
As the federal government continues to impose stricter immigration policies, the necessity for multiracial solidarity becomes increasingly apparent. Chicagoans of color face pressures that push them to unite, creating opportunities for lasting connections. Lewis encapsulated this sentiment, stating, “There is a huge opportunity for us to learn from one another; an opportunity to be conscious around how these systems have caused our communities to play each other.”
The ongoing work of residents in Chicago and Los Angeles illustrates a significant movement towards multiracial solidarity in the face of immigration enforcement, highlighting the power of community and cooperation amid adversity.
