Over 200 individuals took to the streets of downtown Ontario on a Saturday morning to rally against the Trump administration’s plans for what is projected to be the most extensive deportation campaign in U.S. history. With spirited energy, the crowd proudly displayed American and Mexican flags, beat on drums, and used noisemakers to make their presence known as they marched along the sidewalks. Their voices echoed through the streets chanting, “We are not leaving,” and the iconic United Farm Workers’ rallying cry, “Sí, se puede.” The atmosphere was electric, with cheers erupting each time vehicles on Euclid Avenue honked in solidarity.
Led by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, headquartered in San Bernardino, the protest was dubbed a “mass mobilization against mass deportation” and saw a convergence of more than 35 organizations dedicated to supporting the immigrant community in the Inland Empire. This region boasts a significant immigrant population, as evidenced by a 2018 report from UC Riverside’s Center for Social Innovation, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, and the California Immigrant Policy Center. The report revealed that one in every five residents in the Inland Empire is an immigrant, totaling nearly 1 million individuals across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Immigrant Rights Advocates Unite in Protest
The Inland Empire is also home to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, operated by the private prison corporation GEO Group, making it one of California’s largest immigration detention facilities. Various immigrant rights groups have long been calling for the closure of this center, citing concerns related to health, safety, and human rights. Addressing the passionate crowd before the march commenced, Javier Hernandez, the executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, spoke out against the administration’s fear-mongering tactics aimed at instilling panic within the immigrant community. He encouraged attendees to combat this fear by taking to the streets and advocating for immigrant rights.
As the crowd echoed Hernandez’s sentiment with a resounding chant of “Sin papeles, sin miedo” (Undocumented, unafraid), the atmosphere was charged with a sense of unity and defiance against unjust policies. Among the protesters was Andy Garibay, a DACA recipient who arrived in the country as a baby. Living in Rialto and working in payroll administration, Garibay shared the anxiety that many in the immigrant community are experiencing due to the threats looming overhead. The constant alerts from family members regarding potential immigration enforcement actions have left her and her loved ones on edge, reflecting the pervasive fear gripping immigrant families across the region.
Voices of Resilience and Determination
Deanna Pennino, a respiratory therapist from Ontario, joined the protest to stand in solidarity with her fellow community members. As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Pennino emphasized the importance of staying true to one’s heritage while embracing their American identity. She recounted how her father instilled in her and her siblings the values of hard work and pride in their roots, a sentiment that resonated deeply with many at the rally. Despite the challenges posed by the current political climate, Pennino remained steadfast in her commitment to advocating for immigrant rights, drawing on her past experiences in fighting against discriminatory policies like Proposition 187.
The protest in Ontario is part of a broader wave of activism that has swept through immigrant communities in California and across the nation in response to heightened enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Recent operations in cities like Chicago and New York have fueled apprehension and mobilized advocates to push back against what they perceive as unjust targeting of immigrant populations. The palpable sense of urgency and solidarity evident in Saturday’s protest underscores the resilience and determination of those fighting for immigrant rights in the face of adversity.
The fight for immigrant rights continues to unfold against a backdrop of uncertainty and fear, with communities banding together to resist policies that threaten the fabric of their existence. As the voices of dissent grow louder and the calls for justice ring clearer, the struggle for a more inclusive and equitable society presses on, guided by the unwavering spirit of those who refuse to be silenced.