On May 28, LUPE San Juan welcomed California Senator Alex Padilla to their Salon for a community roundtable during his visit to the RGV. In a candid conversation, LUPE members shared how recent ICE raids and overmilitarization have disrupted their daily lives.

“I want to thank you all for being here this morning,” Senator Padilla shared in his opening statement to the roundtable. “Those of you who are sharing stories, I really appreciate not only your willingness but your courage because I know it is not easy. Your community has been through a lot.”

Sen. Padilla, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, is fighting for immigration reform that aligns with the values and needs of the country, including a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and long-term residents who contribute daily to the economy and their communities.

This historic event marked the first visit by a Senator to LUPE and set a precedent for collaboration among attending organizations. Those in attendance include, Texas Civil Rights Project President Rochelle Garza, Laura Peña, Director, American Bar Association ProBAR (TBD), Osvaldo Grimaldo, Border & Immigrants’ Rights Strategist, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU), Brian A. Strassburger, Director, Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries, Olivia Peña, Esq., Co-Director of the Young Center's Child Advocate Program, and La Union del Pueblo Entero, President and Executive Director, Tania Chavez.

 Each shared stories highlighting the challenges immigrant children, asylum seekers, and DACA recipients face in detention centers, Texas courts, and their homes due to anti-immigration rhetoric and increased ICE raids.  

The conversation began with firsthand accounts from members whose daily routines have been affected by rogue, unmasked agents unlawfully trespassing in homes to target members of the community. One member shared that she changed her parents’ car information to her name out of concern that Flock Safety Cameras with Automated License Plate readers might track her parents' information. This precaution, although difficult, felt necessary to avoid potential targeting by ICE and deportation. This situation highlighted the deep-rooted worry and anxiety experienced by citizens and non-citizens during these uncertain times.

 Yenniffer England, a LUPE member who was recently released from El Valle Detention Center, was present. Yenniffer–whose release was made possible by her community, legal team, and her family's relentless organizing efforts–told LUPE staff and community members in attendance that she had made a promise to share the stories of the men and women still being held in the detention facility. Yenniffer’s release was made possible by her community and her family’s relentless organizing efforts and the support of her legal representation. Despite being in deportation proceedings, she was released after a federal judge ruled her detention was unlawful. Yenniffer, her brother, and daughter were on their way to get tacos when she was stopped by a DPS officer and detained after driving with an expired license. What should have been a traffic violation turned into a traumatic experience for her daughter, who saw her mom being taken without an explanation.

Now, almost a week after her release at the time of the roundtable discussion, England sat across Senator Padilla and recounted the events that took place that night of February 16.

“When the officer told me to step out of the vehicle, I remembered [what] being here [at LUPE] has taught me. I know my rights,” England told Senator Padilla.

The room was at a standstill as one by one, community members and organization leaders shared the irreparable harm this administration has caused our community. A wave of comfort washed over the people present in the Salon that day, knowing that a member of the Senate had finally made the time to come down to the RGV and actually sit down and listen to the people. In a region that is often used as a political backdrop by politicians who use immigration policy and the promise of immigration reform as political points at the ballot box, this visit symbolized a sense of relief and support that has not been reciprocated by our own Texas leaders.

In 2023, following a visit from former President Joe Biden, LUPE and community members led a protest outside of the Brownsville Airport as they waited for the former president to disembark to demand a meeting with the president to discuss the need for immigration reform, which came to no avail. Senator Padilla’s visit marked a moment in LUPE history that will be remembered as the day our members refused to stay silent and tell the world what challenges our community is facing during the rise of Polimigra and the over-militarization of our frontera.

While the fight for immigrants' rights and safety continues, sharing our stories remains a powerful tool to raise awareness and drive the changes we seek for our community. Together, we are committed to building a safer and more just future in the RGV.