Should Black Americans Care About ICE and Immigration Policies?

June in El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula—Los Angeles’ original name—celebrates its foundation in 1781 by 44 settlers from Spanish Mexico, over half of whom were of African descent. In this City of Angels, weekends often see the youth escaping to socialize. However, as the sun dipped behind palm trees, I advised my 21-year-old son and his girlfriend to reconsider their plans. Previous ICE raids in the Fashion District had captured over 100 individuals, including labor leader David Huerta, inciting widespread concern. Significant segments of the Black community felt disconnected from the crisis, expressing sentiments like “Not our fight.” Historical tensions between Black and Latino communities surfaced, with writers like Marlissa Collier highlighting experiences of anti-Blackness during her upbringing in Los Angeles. Afro-Latina activist Tanya Katerí Hernández cautioned that neglecting Latino struggles jeopardizes Black safety, asserting ICE actions implicate all marginalized communities. The call for solidarity and understanding resonates as a crucial undertaking amidst socio-political complexities.