In early 2025 President Trump initiated United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, leading to the deportation of approximately 200,000 immigrants. This increase in deportation, occurring in cities across the United States, has sparked heated debate among the people, some in support of ICE and some against.
Carrying an anti-ICE perspective, senior Nelli Van shared that cracking down only on immigration will not solve the problems the government is hoping for.
“I do get the argument that less restriction would let in criminals and/or dangerous people, but at the same time, there’s already a bunch of dangerous people in this country, and I feel only focusing on the people immigrating is the wrong focus,” Van said.
Taking political parties into account, social science teacher David Ledesma described the perspective of ICE supporters.
“People who are more Republican are going to say, ‘We can’t just let anybody in the world who’s poor, anybody who’s hiding from their government. We don’t have enough room in this country for that. We need to have less people coming in, and we need to make sure that there’s jobs for all Americans,’” Ledesma said.
Others expressed disapproval of ICE due to where they are conducting raids. Freshman Blakely Jacobs pointed out that Trump revoked a policy that prohibited ICE from going into select locations.
“President Trump repealed a law that protects ICE from going into schools, hospitals and churches. I’m not really cool with that, especially hospitals. I mean, there are sick people in there. There are people receiving treatment.” Jacobs said.
Beyond the location of the raids, Jacobs also criticized how the president has deported ordinary laborers.
“President Trump said his main focus was criminals, but a lot of the people that are getting deported are just your average worker. And I’m not really cool with that.” Jacobs said.
Similarly, other students, like junior Victoria Gutierrez, expressed their distaste for the organization’s methods.
“(ICE) are completely ripping children away from their families, or parents away from their children, or families just ripping them apart over the color of their skin or where they’re coming from, ruining their lives because they don’t want them here even though it’s supposed to be a free country,” Gutierrez said.
Along with ICE’s actions, Gutierrez noticed a trend in the individuals ICE targets, mentioning race plays an important factor.
“I think it’s actually horrible and disgusting the way that they’re doing it. Just not even finding people who are doing bad or illegal things. It’s just because they’re Hispanic. They don’t think they belong here,” Gutierrez said.
Others agree with Gutierrez’s sentiment regarding ICE and find it to be immoral. One such individual is freshman Veronica Martinez.
“Many reports have been made about them taking innocent people who are minding their own business and doing no harm just because they look ever so slightly Hispanic,” Martinez said.
Martinez also detailed how ICE raids have impacted the community. She feels they have made students concerned about attending school due to their parent’s immigration status.
“It’s definitely affecting the fear levels for many kids as they need their parents in their life and especially for Hispanic children. With most of their parents not being here legally, it’s definitely taking a toll with how safe they feel in school.” Martinez said.
For Van, that toll of how safe one feels in school extends outside of the campus.
“All the news about ICE targeting citizens as well or ‘They’re gonna take away citizenship and stuff,’ it does make me worry that maybe my family isn’t completely safe,” Van said.
ICE has received consistent and intense criticism since early this year. Many people, including Jacobs, disapprove of the organization and have taken to protesting. Jacobs described how one can donate to the American Civil Liberties Union and organize with others. She also commented that one can let people know their rights by passing out red cards, which lists the rights one has with law enforcement like ICE.
“I think informing people is good, civically engaging, attending protests, possibly donating, or working, volunteering with these kinds of nonprofits, or organizing with your community.” Jacobs said.