Protestors met under the bridge at Memorial Park in El Paso, Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Words and slogans were written on their signs in English and Spanish, displaying the green, white and red colors of the Mexican flag to show solidarity with immigrants from south of the United States border. Many expressed anger toward Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportation, and support for those affected.
During Trump’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, he said he “promises to launch the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” Specifically, Latino immigrants whom he refers to as “killers,” “criminals” and “aliens” throughout his speech.
Since his inauguration on Jan. 20, he has signed executive orders to expand immigration detention centers, allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into sensitive zones such as schools, churches and hospitals and sent 1,500 ICE troops to the southern border on Jan. 23.
ICE officials started immigration enforcement in El Paso as of Thursday, Jan. 30. Media photos were sent to El Paso Matters, but ICE officials have not provided any information on whether this plays a part in Trump’s plan for historic mass deportation.
Brianna Miranda, 22, and Isabella Delgado, 21, organized the “People Over Papers” protest. Information for the protest was posted on Monday, Jan. 26 and screenshots quickly circulated through Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Both women emphasized a peaceful protest with the end goal of bringing the community together and educating people on current immigration issues and their effect on the El Paso borderland community.
“We want to make sure people walk away with the knowledge that they need to keep themselves safe, their loved ones safe and know that they are not alone,” Miranda said.
El Paso’s population is 81% Latino. Much of the El Paso community has connections to undocumented immigrants, making these issues near and dear to their hearts.
“This country was not only built on the backs of our parents and grandparents, but other communities as well. We’re losing our community, and we cannot allow ourselves to be uneducated,” Miranda said.
Throughout the protest, many offered resources and mutual aid to assist those who could be affected by the recent orders.
“We can’t keep thinking of ourselves as individuals anymore,” Delgado said. “We don’t have that luxury anymore. We have to think of the collective because if we only work towards our individual futures, we’ll have no future.”
Juliana Alcala, 20, and Liberty Garcia, 22, participated on the Jan. 29 protest. Alcala’s family has been directly affected by deportation before.
“When I was in middle school my parents were deported,” Alcala said. “It’s the first time I really experienced the reality of immigration and how separating families really changes lives. It’s really important for us to speak up on it. For other kids and for other people.”
The protest had a significant turn from many protesters sharing strength and tears. As current orders strike fear into the hearts of the large Latino community in El Paso, many share stories to remember where they came from and what they’re fighting for.
“My father’s an immigrant, my brother’s an immigrant—everybody on a whole side of my family is an immigrant,” Garcia said. “They [gave me] a privileged life I didn’t know I had until I saw the way a lot of [immigrants] are living. Everybody deserves a chance, and it should be made easier.”
Congressmen Tony Gonzales who represents parts of Fort Bliss and parts of East El Paso stated that “President Trump is taking much-needed steps to restore law and order through executive action. Brighter days are ahead for our nation, the days of lawlessness in our country are over.”
Mass deportations are to continue across the United States according to the White House.
Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @empanaditawrites.
