Students and community members hosted a rally in opposition to the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the University’s Anniversary Plaza Saturday afternoon.
The “F— ICE Rally,” announced on social media, featured speakers from student and community organizations, including the Illini Democrats, Illinois Coalition Assisting Undocumented Students’ Education and Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana.
Organizers stated the rally was to draw attention to the targeting of immigrants by the Trump administration and to pressure the University to listen to student voices.
Maria Jimenez, executive director of ISCU, spoke at the rally. Alongside Jimenez, other I-CAUSE and Illini Democrats leaders shared their concerns over the ICE’s actions.
One major point Jimenez focused on was the University’s response to the recent viral Illini Republicans’ post. The University stated it cannot discipline RSOs for social media posts expressing the viewpoint or content of protected speech but said its Title VI office was reviewing reports related to the post.
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“Let us be very clear,” Jimenez said. “You will be seeing us out here, time and time again, and we will use our protected speech to advocate, to mobilize and to make it harder and harder for hate speech to go unchecked.”
The rally featured personal stories from people in the U.S. who said they had been harmed by the administration’s stance on immigration. Some speakers shared their personal experiences, while others told stories of people across the nation.
Marina Justo, I-CAUSE activism co-president and senior in LAS, read the story of a 14-year-old girl held in detention by ICE.
“‘It is bad, and I am terrified,’” Justo said, reading from the letter. “‘I’m tired. I feel so much sadness and depression.’”
After finishing the story, Justo applauded the people in attendance, stating that “their presence will tell the University that they will not be silenced.”
Secretary of Illini Democrats and junior in LAS Reynaldo Camas-Aranda gave a tearful narrative of his extended family’s experience with ICE and its impact on himself and his mother.
“This is the first time I saw (my mom) scared,” Camas-Aranda said. “The strongest woman I know was scared for the first time … Two days before Latino Family Visit Day, she called me, saying that she was scared and that she didn’t know if she wanted to go outside to see me.”
Camas-Aranda said his anger and grief motivate him to keep speaking up and that being a citizen has allowed him to continue protesting. He also called for the abolition of ICE.
Samantha Webb, Illini Democrats immigration solidarity co-chair and sophomore in LAS, encouraged attendees to stay involved and keep speaking up.
“When you stay silent, you’re letting families be torn apart,” Webb said. “Too many times, I’ve seen my peers say, ‘Well, it’s not affecting me,’ and I’m here to tell you that it does.”
Webb then described the current administration’s handling of peaceful protesters and journalists. She mentioned federal agents’ arrest of Don Lemon, a journalist and former CNN host, who was covering an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.
“People like Don Lemon were silenced,” Webb said. “If the government is willing to silence the press, where does it end? … When is it gonna be you? When is it gonna be me? When is it gonna be the rest of the country?”
Webb urged attendees to keep peacefully protesting, speaking up and pressuring officials. According to Webb, everybody’s voice matters and change will come only when people continue to use them.
Ben Dreves-Hunt, Illini Democrat’s immigration solidarity co-chair and sophomore in LAS, also called for the University to stop funding groups and companies that support ICE.
Dreves-Hunt also criticized Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who represents Champaign-Urbana in the House of Representatives, for voting in support of the Laken Riley Act. The law requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants charged with or arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.
“Our student fees, our tuition dollars, our public institution, flowing to a corporation that helps move human beings in chains,” Dreves-Hunt said. “Civic engagement is not just about voting every four years. It’s refusing to let powerful institutions hide behind paperwork.”
