ICE Raids: Interview with S.J.

When I think about ICE raids and mass deportations in the U.S., it honestly breaks my heart. These aren’t just “operations” or “policies,” they're real moments that tear families apart. Imagine being a kid and coming home from school to find out your mom or dad is gone. Imagine living every day with fear in your chest, not knowing if today’s the day someone knocks on your door and takes away someone you love.

ICE protests began because people couldn’t stay silent anymore. They were standing up for their neighbors, their classmates, their friends for people who deserve to live without fear. I think about the children in detention centers, separated from their parents, confused and scared. I think about hardworking people who came here to build a better life, only to be treated like criminals for wanting safety and opportunity.

What worries me most is how normal it’s all starting to feel to some people. Like it’s okay. But it’s not. Mass deportation isn’t just about policy, it's about human beings. Immigration parents will be missing the special moments of their child even though all they wanted to see is them being successful. People with dreams, families, and stories just like ours. It’s easy to judge from a distance, but when you actually hear the pain in someone’s voice, it hits differently.

We should be better. We should be a country that leads with compassion, not fear. No one should feel like they don’t belong just because of where they were born. And no child should have to grow up in a world where love and family can be taken away in seconds. And if you're someone who's never had to worry about your family being  separated… I ask you just for a moment to close your eyes and picture this: You're at dinner and there's an empty chair where your parents usually sit. It's quiet and no one knows when they're coming back or if they ever will. That silence? That's what so many people are living with right now. If that image hurts even a little then maybe it's time we all start caring a lot more.

-S.J., July 3, 2025