By Leslie Pantoja, Hub Editor
Demonstrators line 19th Street with posters and flags to protest ICE raids. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
Over 500 people gathered Saturday morning at Tim Cole Memorial Park to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids as they surge under Donald Trump’s presidential administration.
The demonstrators chanted “No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here!” and “Viva Mexico!” as they flooded the intersection of 19th Street and University Avenue with signs calling for the abolition of ICE. Flags from various countries waved in the wind.
Demonstrator at ICE raid protest holds up Honduras flag. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
“I’m a third-generation Mexican-American, so it was important for me to show my minor children and my minor sisters that we have to fight for our rights,” said Anne Keel, the organizer of the demonstration. “We have to fight for our people. A lot of people were having misconceptions, so I wanted them to come out and form a village. I wanted them to get legal information from the multiple lawyers that are here. I wanted people to have a safe space.”
Mojigangas, or giant papier-mâché puppets, at ICE raid protest. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
To start fulfilling one of his cornerstone campaign promises of carrying out the largest deportations in U.S. history, Trump signed 10 executive orders over immigration as well as issued multiple edicts on border security his first week in office.
Some actions have already been met with legal challenges – including Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship – and may take years to happen, if ever. While others have almost immediately begun, such as restarting the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border barrier.
All actions, however, have generated fear in immigrant communities.
Alyssa Guevara, a senior journalism major, is the daughter of documented immigrants and says she came to the protest to speak out about her personal opinions and represent her heritage.
Alyssa Guevara holds up her sign that reads “no human is illegal” at ICE raid protest. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
“It hurts to see everything that’s going on,” Guevara said. “It’s scary, yes, but you can’t just watch everything and just not do anything. I encourage people to look deep down and think that that could be their family getting deported or being treated that way. Put yourself in their shoes. [The demonstration] is a good cause, we all came from the same root.”
Executive Order 14159, entitled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” attempts to establish the U.S. policy of achieving “the total and efficient enforcement” of the immigration laws, “including through lawful incentives and detention capabilities,” according to the White House website.
The executive order, which was signed by Trump on Jan. 20, further requires executive departments and agencies to employ all lawful means to ensure the faithful execution of U.S. immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, as well as stating that more ICE agents and officers be hired to fulfill these duties.
ICE has reportedly made an average of about 812 immigration arrests daily between Jan. 23 through Jan. 31, according to the agency’s X account, a notable increase from the daily average of 311 in a 12-month period through September under former President Joe Biden.
Several cars at ICE raid protest show support by honking and revving their engines. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
Honduran Jairo Fúnez is currently a professor at Texas Tech and was an undocumented immigrant for 18 years.
“I know the reality of undocumented immigrants,” Fúnez said. “I know the hardworking families that have been separated, including my own. My brother was deported in 2007. I think there’s a lot of hate and discourse being perpetuated. Not only by the president, but the people who support him, and these are just false accusations of entire communities. We in fact pay taxes, we work hard, and all we’re doing here is trying to make a living and trying to help our own families.”
Fúnez was previously suspended from the university in March 2024 for several posts made on social media that were related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. After being reinstated, he continues to be an advocate for free speech.
“I think during these times we have to speak up no matter what,” Fúnez said. “Despite the consequences. And I think more people just need to be unafraid about these things and work together with other people. Alone, it’s difficult. But find a group, find a people, find your community, build your community, and organize in whatever way you can.”
Demonstrators holding up signs and Mexican flags at ICE raid protest. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
Several organizations were also present at the protest including the Lubbock County Democratic Party, the Latin American Association, and Lubbock Compact.
Anne Keel described what the turnout of people meant to her as the organizer of the demonstration.
“I’m emotional,” said Keel. “I am very proud of myself because I’m not from Lubbock. I didn’t know anybody moving here and I built a very good village. I got involved with a lot of local things, so it kind of just evolved.”
Demonstrators holding up signs at ICE raid protest. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
Keel said she hopes to build a bridge between communities. She plans to continue expressing her beliefs and encourages others to do the same, regardless of their identity.
“I think you’ll find your safe haven,” Keel said. “I think it’s okay to not want to speak out if that’s not you as a person, but I also don’t think that it should stop you from your everyday life. I don’t think anyone, regardless of your color or your ethnicity, should be scared to go and have conversations…because at the end of the day, that’s your personal belief. It’s not right and it’s not wrong, so we should still be able to coexist in the world.”
Demonstrators holding up signs and Mexican flags at ICE raid protest. Photo by Leslie Pantoja.
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