An anonymous UC Santa Cruz student who has multiple undocumented family members is part of a mixed-status family. All their life, the thought of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have always been terrifying to them.
But after one of their family members’ neighbors in Kern County was detained and deported last week, what was once a terrifying possibility suddenly became their reality.
“I feel like it was in the back of my mind, but then after actually seeing stories come out, seeing videos come out, seeing people come out, I realized that this is happening,” the anonymous source said. “I think that ICE is taking it way out of proportion. [The way they are] detaining people and assuming that certain people are immigrants, I just feel like that’s wrong.”
On the cusp of President Donald Trump’s second term in office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents conducted a series of unannounced raids in Kern and Fresno counties during the second week of January, detaining 78 individuals.
As the raids occurred, multiple false reports on social media of ICE personnel in Pasadena and East San Jose spread a flurry of panic throughout California.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later confirmed that law enforcement was not conducting searches or raids in Los Angeles County and East San Jose. In light of the recent fires near Los Angeles, they reassured the community: In the event of an emergency, anyone in need of shelter and aid is able to safely do so regardless of immigration status.
A graduate student in education at UCSC explained the impacts of false reporting.
“It’s hard to follow social media stories because they attach a video from years ago and pretend that it’s something that is happening now,” they said. “It creates hysteria, and it creates fear amongst the immigrant community.”
On his first day in office, President Trump signed numerous executive orders related to immigration, declaring a national emergency at the United States-Mexico border and issuing a directive to the U.S. military to assist in immigration enforcement. These orders came on the same day that the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that makes it easier to detain undocumented immigrants for minor crimes such as minor theft and larceny.
An anonymous co-founder of Improving Dreams, Equity, Access, and Success (IDEAS), a student organization at UCSC that aims to strengthen the undocumented community on campus, spoke about their experience after President Trump won the election in November.
“When we first had our community circle, many students were saying that they were backtracking on the idea of going to grad school or continuing their higher education because they felt like it wasn’t worth it,” the anonymous source from IDEAS said. “They felt like there was no reason to continue when there was a risk of being deported.”
Despite the feelings of loss and hopelessness, some IDEAS members shared, the anonymous source expressed that they sensed an undertone of determination.
“A lot of our members were talking about fear. But I think something else is that people are preparing,” they said. “People are ready to go against [the Trump administration], you know? It’s always been ‘community helps community’ for us. So we’re all thinking, ‘Well, how are we gonna protect each other?’”
IDEAS meets weekly in various classrooms for general body meetings, which are publicized on their Instagram, @ideasucsc. The organization also distributes “red cards,” slips of paper that list an individual’s constitutional rights, such as the right to remain silent and the right to refuse consent to a search.
In addition to IDEAS, UCSC also provides support for undocumented students through Undocumented Student Services (USS), a program under the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP). USS is located on the second floor of the Academic Resource Center (ARC) building, room 216; they are also reachable by phone, (831) 459-2296, via email, eopab540@ucsc.edu, and their Instagram, @undocuslugs.
While these resources provide a possible safe space for UCSC students and their families, systemic issues still remain. The anonymous graduate student believes that even those with citizenship aren’t immune to the weight of President Trump’s immigration policies.
“We have to acknowledge that we have students [who] come from mixed-status families,” they said. “Although a student might be a citizen … their parents might be undocumented, so those students may also fear their parents might get impacted by these raids and the [Trump] administration.”
The anonymous source from IDEAS echoed a similar view, emphasizing the lack of representation for undocumented individuals both on campus and beyond.
“I think [UCSC] could do more [for the undocumented community] … one of our biggest concerns right now is the fact that [IDEAS still doesn’t] have a physical space [for] our services,” the anonymous source from IDEAS said.
The future of many undocumented and mixed-status families remains uncertain for the next four years. For many, one thing is clear: A sense of community can outweigh fear.
“Right now, our focus is that we come together and understand that although we are immigrants, although we weren’t born in this country, we do what we can to serve the country,” the first anonymous source said. “We need to understand our rights … Even though we may not feel as superior as other people, we are still considered equal. We still have the same rights as everyone else.”
Other Resources for Undocumented Individuals:
IDEAS can be reached from their Instagram, @ideasucsc
USS is located on the second floor of the Academic Resource Center (ARC) building, room 216; they are also reachable by phone, (831) 459-2296, via email, eopab540@ucsc.edu, and their Instagram, @undocuslugs.
USS’ “Beyond Borders E-Zine” offers more resources and programs, including legal services, basic needs, annual events, student-led workshops, and counseling.
Your Allied Rapid Response (YARR) in Santa Cruz County aims to prevent ICE from reaching the undocumented community. In case of an ICE or enforcement sighting, they can be reached by their hotline number at (831) 239-4289.
The Santa Cruz Immigration Project (SCCIP) provides free services for undocumented communities, including legal consultations. They can be reached at (831) 724-5667.
For students facing a domestic violence situation, the Center for Advocacy, Resources & Empowerment (CARE) offers complete confidentiality to students who are in need of assistance. They can be reached at this number (831) 502-CARE (2273) and located at Hahn Student Services, 400 Hahn Road, Ste. 104, Santa Cruz, CA.
