OP / ED
The streets of California are filled with protests again, and the tension is felt in Texas too. Thousands of people in Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego are taking to the streets to protest immigration pressure and deportations. But this wave of unrest is not limited to California. In Texas, where immigrant communities are deeply connected to the life and culture of the state, every new raid or order echoes in nearby states. This is no longer just about California — it is about the entire Southwest.
Since early 2024, deportations in the U.S. have risen to much larger numbers than in previous years, with a large part happening in the South. In Texas, near the border, families are often separated without waiting for their cases to be reviewed.
Amid protests in California, many people have come together to show that this protest is not just an attempt to say that migration is not a crime — it is human history.
Political pressure, leaning towards anti-immigrant rhetoric and stronger control paired with more raids and arrests tries to show effectiveness to voters but forgets about basic human rights and the Constitution. As a result, instead of real reform, everyone suffers — even ordinary migrants who have lived in the U.S. for decades without legal protection remain separated from children with citizenship.
Thousands of people defending their rights are not a threat to stability as they are made out to be. These are parents, teachers, store workers and builders — many who have lived here for decades, pay taxes and raise their children in the U.S. Today, migrants are not asking for privileges — they demand recognition, stability and the chance to stay legally. They are the backbone of the Southern and U.S. economy. Deportations hit not only families but entire communities. When authorities carry out deportations, they are destroying lives and breaking apart families, undermining trust in the system.
When the government begins to deport people fast and without explanations, it becomes dangerous for everyone. It creates a precedent where rights are no longer guaranteed but become a matter of political gain. The country should not fear those who come to it, it should fear losing its humanity. While the streets of California fill with protesters, the question is not just about migration but about what kind of America it will be — a country of laws or exceptions.
