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New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Paramount, Where Protests Erupted, Has a Large Hispanic Population
As President Trump ordered at least 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles County on Saturday, some of the most active protests against immigration raids in the area were taking place near a Home Depot in Paramount, a small city some 25 miles southeast of the Hollywood sign. Law enforcement officers used flash-bang grenades and fired rubber bullets at demonstrators. The mood had been tense in the city ever since Mr. Trump took office for the second time with promises to deport thousands of undocumented immigrants. 'Since January, people have lived in fear,' said Jose Luis Solache, a state lawmaker who represents the area. 'We saw a decline in our schools' attendance, we saw a decline in people going to work.' Los Angeles County includes wealthy enclaves like Malibu and Beverly Hills, but also many communities like Paramount that have for decades attracted Latino immigrants who clean hotel rooms in tourist districts, manufacture clothes or work at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Paramount is one of about two dozen cities ringing Los Angeles's southeastern border, collectively known as 'the Gateway Cities.' Some 82 percent of Paramount's more than 51,000 residents are Hispanic and about 36 percent are foreign-born, according to census data. Its median household income is $70,900; across Los Angeles County, that number is roughly $87,800. 'All these cities — Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Paramount — they are full of working-class Latinos that were able to have a piece of the middle class,' said Hugo Soto-Martinez, a Los Angeles City Council member who previously worked as a labor organizer in the area. 'They're like Latino suburbs.' Trump administration officials have said that the federal government's immigration crackdown will increasingly focus on workplaces. Angelica Salas, the executive director of CHIRLA, an immigrant rights group in Los Angeles, said that the Paramount area's dense concentration of immigrants, including undocumented ones, most likely made it a ripe target for immigration enforcement raids. 'They don't care to go to a workplace or have warrants,' Ms. Salas said of federal immigration enforcement authorities. 'They just care that brown people are there.' Paramount and other Gateway Cities weren't always destinations for working families. In the early 20th century, they were agricultural areas. The two villages that would later combine to form Paramount were known as 'the Milk Shed of Los Angeles,' according to a city history on its website. In 1948, the city, which wouldn't be officially incorporated until 1957, was named Paramount for a main street running through town. The area was developed in the decades that followed. Factories and warehouses spread, alongside homes. According to the city history, in the early 1980s, a think tank called Paramount an 'urban disaster area.' But in recent years, Paramount has been revitalized as the children of immigrants have sought out more affordable homes and opened businesses. Now, young people catch up over elaborate horchata and coffee concoctions at Horchateria Rio Luna and belt their favorite songs during karaoke nights at Casa Adelita.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Demonstrators rally against ICE presence in South Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A group of people gathered Saturday to protest against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in South Nashville. Even though reports of ICE activity have gone down in recent days, rally organizers said worry and anxiety still ripples through predominantly Latino communities. Attendees said they chose to protest at the intersection of Nolensville Pike and Harding Place, which is where many of the traffic stops from Tennessee Highway Patrol's 'public safety operation' with ICE took place this month. 'We're going to take a look': TN congressman doubles down on call for investigation into Nashville mayor According to the Department of Homeland Security, this operation has resulted in the arrests of 196 'criminal illegal aliens' — 95 of whom had prior criminal convictions and pending charges — as of Tuesday, May 13. However, DHS has only released the names and criminal histories of five men who were taken into custody during the Nashville operation. 'I've had family members who have been detained by ICE. I know relatives who have been deported,' one of the protesters, Miguel Gomez, said. Gomez traveled to Nashville from Atlanta to show solidarity. He told News 2 he has family members who have been detained and deported by ICE. Nashville mayor disputes claims he obstructed ICE agents 'I'm here to fight and speak for the people who cannot,' Gomez said. 'Racism is becoming much more widespread again; people are just being blatantly racist towards immigrants and Hispanics, regardless of origin, and it makes me feel unsafe in my own community.' The protest on Saturday, May 17 was organized by Nashville's branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. However, News 2 was told many others across the region also came to show support. 'They're the construction workers, they're the hotel workers, they're the gardeners, the landscapers — they do everything that the other parts of the working class do. They're not the enemy,' said organizer Gloria la Riva. ⏩ On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) posted a picture of a digital flier for the rally and tagged ICE's X account, saying, 'y'all should get some agents here.' Ogles is also pushing ahead with his intention to open an investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell, who has publicly criticized ICE and THP's operation. The congressman has accused the mayor and other city officials of repeatedly obstructing ICE operations, but O'Connell has stood firm against those claims. News 2 saw one sign at the protest that read '8647.' The former director of the FBI, James Comey, also shared a picture of those numbers in a now-deleted Instagram post that garnered significant backlash from much of President Donald Trump's base. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X that Comey had 'called for the assassination' of Trump and that federal law enforcement would be investigating the 'threat.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
17-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Newcomer in Hamilton finds strength through joy and community after fleeing gender-based violence
Social Sharing For Ana Cruz Valladares, small joys can help her cope during a dark time. The Hamilton resident immigrated to Canada in 2017 with her two daughters, then four and six years old. She fled from her home country of Honduras after experiencing gender-based violence. "I suffered from isolation, severe depression, fear of asking for help, and I shut myself away. I shut myself away in my house, in my body," she said, recalling when she first arrived to Canada. But people from Latin America have a talent of finding joy and laughter in the darkest, sometimes inappropriate moments, she said — and that joy can be an effective coping skill when confronting the aftermath of traumatic events. "Joy is a part of who we are. Even in difficult times, for example, it's very common in the Latino community for someone to tell jokes at a funeral," Cruz Valladares told CBC Hamilton in an interview translated from Spanish. That joy comes from community connections or through dancing and music, Cruz Valladares said, though it can sometimes be hard to find it when you're alone in a new country. Cruz Valladares was one of several panellists during a conference hosted by the Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area (SACHA) for Sexual Violence Prevention Month. It was held Thursday at The Gasworks. The conference heard from speakers on the prevention of violence, supports for survivors and community care needs for people from a range of perspectives, including trans, Black and Indigenous people in Hamilton. It was SACHA's third annual conference and also celebrated the organization's 50th anniversary. On a panel about the experiences in the Latinx community, Cruz Valladares and other panellists — Nancy Bedoya, from Colombia, and Gabriela Rodulfo, from Venezuela — discussed the role of community, extended family and joy in adjusting to life as a newcomer in Canada. New career inspired by lived experience After Cruz Vadallares left Honduras, she first went to the United States. But after a lawyer scammed her and with fears of deportation under Donald Trump's first term, she came to Canada, she said. Cruz Valladares said she felt "buried in a hole" and unable to seek help when she first arrived, due to the stigma many have around mental health services in Latin America. "I had to show myself strong for my family and my children," she said. "That's why when community organizations open the doors and create programs or events for newcomers in having access to different languages … that is a game changer in the community." Eventually, Cruz Valladares sought help through her lawyer in Canada, who connected her to places like SACHA and Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health, among others in Hamilton. "They helped me to empower myself," she said. Cruz Valladares worked in banking while in Honduras, but was inspired by the services she received to build her new career in community service. She now works with Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health. "This is my passion now," she said, adding she uses her experience to help other newcomers. Finding services that won't retraumatize The value of peer counselling was a common thread throughout the morning panels on Thursday. In an earlier discussion, speakers Nim Agalawatte, Jesse James and Calvin Prowse explored the importance of trans-led community support. Traditional supports and services can often be retraumatizing, the panellists said, and there's a need for alternatives. Prowse gave the example of receiving services from a non-trans professional. "Can we not have to start with these one-on-one conversations of having to explain to a support provider what gender is when you're trying to get support around trauma," said Prowse, a social worker and peer support worker. "Can we skip the first five sessions of me educating you on who I am?" For Nikki Evans and Chelsea Poshni, who work at the YWCA and were in attendance on Thursday, listening to voices like Prowse's is important. "[It's] our responsibility to advocate for these people that may not feel they're getting what they need from us," said Poshni, who works in the transitional living program at the YWCA. Evans said her biggest takeaway from the morning panels was that "there's always a lot of work to do." "Working with such a diverse amount of people, I'm not going to understand all of their experiences, but realizing that it's not up to them to educate me, I need to do it myself … I do have education gaps, and I need to fix that," she said.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Illegal' San Rafael night market draws complaints from residents, businesses
The Brief A bustling, impromptu San Rafael night market and the messes that come with it have raised the ire of residents and businesses. City and county officials have been made aware of the issue, but say the options for dealing with the market are limited. SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - While some towns are opening up official night markets to promote identity and community, one unofficial night market has drawn complaints from some business folks and residents for being too loud, too late and too many. "We live in the wild, wild west," said Omar, a brick and mortar businessman. He says this ad-hoc, nightly, thriving and illegal food market has taken root in San Rafael's heavily Latino Canal District. A Free-For-All "These guys can just open up anywhere, and now we're not talking about two or three. We're taking about 20 to 25 guys. It's definitely chaotic. These guys come in like after 6 o'clock or 7 o'clock [p.m.], and they're there until like twelve, one o'clock [a.m.] They're not local and that's from officials of San Rafael," said Omar. While brick and mortar restaurants are licensed and inspected, the street market potentially creates health issues. "No water to wash their hands. I did get notices of people getting sick. The canal area, we do have a lot of undocumented residents…so, they are not likely to report sickness. The mess that they leave at the end is now causing rodents to show up," he said. Omar also says they have no permits or licenses, block sidewalks and customer cars often block streets. "They are selling beer out of their coolers now…they're selling beer without having a beer license," he said. Limited Recourse The City of San Rafael and Marin County officials are aware of this problem as some residents and businesses complain. "There's some parts of the issue that are in the city's jurisdiction, and some parts of the issue are in the county's jurisdiction," said Sarah Jones, Marin County's community development director. But given limited resources and many more critical needs, coordination of enforcement is difficult. As with homelessness, a major sweep could lead to the market popping up elsewhere. "That's very likely and we do see it move around. This city is trying to find a path to making it possible for them to do this in a legal way, identifying a place where it can happen," said Jones. Many will tell you that this is as much a cultural thing as a rouge thing. And, like the homeless issue, finesse usually works better than brute force.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The lasting impact of Trump's immigration crackdown on Chicago students
CHICAGO — When President Donald Trump took office and declared Chicago 'ground zero' for the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, Alma Duran, 43, said her 10-year-old twins asked why their classes at an elementary school in Pilsen were deserted. She told them some kids and parents were scared to come in for fear of getting detained and deported, and she explained the concept of the United States border to her children for the first time — that they were born in Chicago and had documents that some of their classmates might not have. 'And even then, my kids were like, 'How is this possible? How can they be so afraid that they don't even want to come to school? … Mommy, you always say going to school is good. How is it not good now for some friends?'' Duran remembered them asking her. Trump's hard-line immigration policy has taken a deep emotional toll on communities with large undocumented populations. And though attendance at Perez has slowly recovered in the months since Trump took office, fear and anxiety linger among parents, teachers and students at some Chicago public schools. Data obtained by the Tribune through a Freedom of Information Act request shows that attendance rates fell at all schools across the district the week of Jan. 20, when the 47th president was sworn in. Over 50% of students attending the 10 schools that experienced the biggest attendance drops are Latino, according to enrollment data on the district's website. The names of the schools are being withheld at Chicago Public Schools' request, out of concern for potential retaliation from the federal government. While the district has taken steps to respond, parents and those working with students describe the effect of Trump's immigration policy changes as insurmountable. It will likely have long-term effects, they say. Students carry a heavy burden worrying about whether their parents will be swept up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Meanwhile, the counseling support they need to relieve their worry is spread thin, said Roy, a teacher at a South Side elementary school whose last name is not being used out of safety concerns for his students. 'We do have counselors, but they don't speak Spanish,' he said. 'That's a resource that a lot of schools need now, especially with newcomers.' CPS did not respond to a request for comment. Emotional toll Headlines about young U.S. citizens being deported by ICE have trickled into school settings, said Ana Espitia, a local school council member and crossing guard at an elementary school in Little Village, a neighborhood known for its strong Mexican American culture. One migrant kindergartner has repeatedly come to school in tears, worried immigration officials might arrest his mom or dad, and that he wouldn't see them again, Espitia said. 'A lot of times, kids use being sick as an excuse. They say they have a headache, or their stomach hurts,' Espitia said. In some cases, students are bullying each other, saying they hope Trump will deport the other, according to Rocio Becerril, an immigration attorney who is an authorized vendor with CPS. She referenced an 11-year-old who died from suicide in Texas amid deportation rumors at school. 'This anti-immigrant sentiment is (likely) coming from their parents,' Becerril surmised. 'But for that information to get to them is disheartening.' Becerril leads Know Your Rights presentations to CPS parents and said that in recent weeks, fewer people have attended those sessions. 'People just curl up and pull away,' she said. 'There's so much information out there, and there's so much misinformation.' Inauguration Day Parents recounted a significant psychological effect on their kids at a Back of the Yards elementary school where two U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials tried to enter on the Friday after Trump's inauguration. The district sparked a panic when it falsely proclaimed ICE agents had tried to enter the building. 'They're going to deport everyone who has our skin color,' an Ecuadorian migrant student, Aaron, said to his mom, Mary, at dismissal outside the school three days later, as she quieted his nerves. Roy, the teacher at the South Side elementary school, teaches a class of all bilingual second-grade students, many of whom stayed home the last two weeks of January, which began with Trump's inauguration. It was unusual, he said, because before those weeks, his students had almost perfect attendance. And it coincided with standardized testing, he said. A Tribune review of CPS attendance data at Roy's school confirmed his account. 'It was definitely difficult for teachers to continue instruction as normal,' he said. 'It's not something that these (students) should be worried about. … They should be focused on their learning.' There are students in his classroom from Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, and he said they are 'resilient.' He tries to maintain routines and positivity with their families. The district does not track the citizenship status of its students because federal law states that all children in the United States, including immigrants, have the right to a public education. CPS officials attributed the decline in attendance on Jan. 22, after the four-day weekend, to concerns about immigration enforcement across the city, while recognizing other factors, such as unusually cold weather, illness and transportation barriers. Attendance at schools that experienced the biggest drop in the first week has steadily returned to a normal range, according to the data obtained by the Tribune. Ongoing concerns Outside a high school in Little Village on a recent afternoon in April, Kimberly Atencia confirmed that she kept her son home during the first two weeks of Trump's presidency. Atencia, who is from Colombia, said the school serves a large population of migrants who arrived on buses from the southern border in August 2022. The school had one of the highest attendance drops. It experienced a roughly 20% decline in average attendance rates between the week before and after Trump was inaugurated. The same weeks in previous years did not experience the same fluctuation, data shows. 'The numbers here have mostly returned to normal,' Atencia said. 'But immigration enforcement activity in the area still sometimes makes people stay indoors.' In April, such immigration enforcement acts included emailed notices from the Department of Homeland Security instructing migrants to leave the U.S. or 'the government will find you,' numerous asylum-seekers told the Tribune. The notices state that DHS is exercising its discretion to terminate parole, a form of legal entry that was expanded under the administration of former President Joe Biden. They were sent to individuals, including U.S. citizens, seemingly without reason, said Nubia Willman, former deputy chief of staff and director of the Office of New Americans under ex-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The notices have caused some people to self-deport, Willman said. 'Because everyone's situation is different, it's important folks get a consultation from a licensed attorney or accredited representative to make sure they are making decisions based on facts,' she said. To help families with CPS students who received notices cope with an overwhelming amount of uncertainty, Juan Carlos Ocon, the principal of a high school in Pilsen, sent an email reviewed by the Tribune to his student body on April 15, urging his school's community to continue to 'lead with empathy and support.' 'If your student or someone in your family has received this letter … please inform me immediately,' he wrote. 'I will personally meet with the student/family and ensure they are connected with an attorney who can help them understand their rights and navigate the process.' Asked for comment, Ocon did not respond. Quelling grief and anxiety The district is taking proactive measures to make sure schools are 'safe places,' where fear is left at the door, said Bianca Ramos, senior mental health consultant at Lurie's Children Hospital's Center for Childhood Resilience. She partners with the CPS Office of Social Emotional Learning to lead trainings for school counselors, clinicians and other staff members who directly work with kids. Schools reach out to parents proactively, rather than waiting for families to come to them, Ramos said. They've adjusted their signage and provided virtual and other more flexible scheduling options for classes. 'When we talk to kids, we make sure that they're limiting their media exposure or speaking to trusted adults so that they can get the resources and the support that they need,' she said. Nonprofit organizations and other groups have also stepped in, but say that more needs to be done. Children don't often have the language to express their anxieties, said Silvia Rodriguez Vega, author of 'Drawing Deportation: Art and Resistance Among Immigrant Children.' Vega spent 10 years researching immigrant children in Arizona and California to provide accounts of children's challenges with deportation under previous presidential administrations. She suggested that schools provide more art-making opportunities for immigrant students. All children are naturally creative, she said, but those from low-income families often lack access to various art forms. 'Art can be literally a lifeline when they face a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear, like many children currently do,' Vega said. In January, ICE visited the apartment complex where Rossyel Ward, a migrant from Venezuela, has settled in Chicago, she said. She wasn't home at the time, but said she heard from her neighbors, who are also migrants. She has two kids who attend an elementary school in Pilsen, and although she was terrified, she sent them to school anyway. 'I can't pass that fear on to my children,' she said. 'It would stay with them.' Under Trump, she said, she 'feels the authoritarianism in a different way' than what she experienced in Venezuela under the government of President Nicolás Maduro. She joined a parent mentor group at her kids' school that she said gives her strength. They reach out to other migrant families who are scared. 'You can't really form an opinion based on the politics of the government that's receiving you — you just have to adjust to it,' she said. 'As migrants, we have to make do.'
