One year after ICE raids, community groups say these needs remain urgent

One year after ICE raids intensified across Los Angeles, community organizations say they are dealing with a dire need for more attorneys, financial help and mutual aid.

Through a survey of local advocacy and community groups, Boyle Heights Beat asked what needs remain most urgent today and how people can help in those efforts.

“Even though large-scale raids are less visible, people are still being picked up, and that fear persists,” said Marissa Montes with the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic. “Many clients don’t feel comfortable coming into the office at all.”

Montes has seen a rise in questions about “self-deportation,” especially from young people, including college students, DACA recipients, and U.S. citizen children asking how they can leave with family members but continue their education and return later.

The organization runs a “Retorno Digno” webinar series that addresses concerns around returning to one’s country of origin. A major issue they’re seeing, Montes said, is families lacking documentation for their U.S.-born children, such as a United States passport. 

Legal assistance is essential but it costs money.

Montes said many immigrant rights organizations are struggling financially. Donations are critical, she said, especially to help cover rising filing fees for unaccompanied children and asylum seekers. 

Renee Garcia, of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, agrees. 

There aren’t enough immigration lawyers to keep up with demand and families are finding it difficult to afford legal assistance, let alone post bond for loved ones captured by immigration agents, Garcia said.

Garcia said financial donations to their organization can go a long way. ImmDef, as the organization is often referred to, is calling for donations for its ‘commissary fund’ to make it easier for its clients to call loved ones and afford clean water and healthier food while detained. 

“Los Angeles is one of the wealthiest regions in the world with a high immigrant population, and that means everyone – from local government to business leaders and everyday residents – must mobilize to push back against the escalating attacks on our most vulnerable neighbors,” Garcia said. “Collective action, not complacency, will end this.”

Jocelyne Castillo with the nonprofit Puente Learning Center, which provides youth and adult education, said many families are “looking for lawyers they can trust and most importantly, that are affordable.”

Families and youth are coping through a mix of food insecurity and mental health issues.

Castillo, with Puente Learning Center, said she is seeing a need for food donations and other essentials. “Our families have been united and helping each other in any way they can, picking up groceries for each other,” she said. 

For those looking to support Puente Learning Center, Castillo recommends donating household and personal hygiene essentials for their upcoming back-to-school event.

“Our community is very … hardworking. They deserve access to resources; they deserve to easily have their basic needs met,” Castillo said.

At the nearby Salesian Family Youth Center, a pressing need is navigating how best to address “the impact of children spending excessive time on screens without sufficient structure or balance,” said JC Montenegro, the organization’s executive director. 

“We are also seeing increased concerns around mental health and new behavioral patterns among children that parents sometimes feel unprepared to address,” Montenegro added. “This creates a need not only for programs for youth, but also for guidance and support systems for families.”

Montenegro said the public can tap into their network to volunteer their services. Once a month, Salesian Family Youth Center collaborates with Vision y Compromiso to provide food distribution that serves up to 90 families at a time, Montenegro said. 

“For those who want to get involved, we always encourage them to come forward and share their time, skills, or resources,” he said.

‘Community helps community’

The ICE raids, the LA fires and tariffs have made things particularly difficult for street vendors and small business owners, according to Inclusive Action for the City.

“Things are not back to normal. The impacts will be felt for months and years to come,” the organization said in a survey.

For those seeking to help, the organization encouraged hiring a local street vendor or food entrepreneur to cater a private party or event. Inclusive Action’s “Hire a Vendor” program can provide local vendors who have gone through their catering training with increased revenue and safer work opportunities.

At Alma Family Services, program facilitator Aurora Bermeo said non-perishable food donations are always welcome. 

Their Yard Free event every other Tuesdays allows families to sort through clothing, household items and food to take home. Bermeo said mutual aid services are essential, such as East LA Pantry, which is stocked with fruits and vegetables outside SuperNOVA Thrift.

“As small as it seems, it helps communities struggling financially to have access to basics,” she said.

Bermeo said ICE raids have led to people missing work and food stamps are no longer enough for some families to afford food. On top of that, she said families are in need of attorneys to fight evictions due to overdue rent. 

“Community helps community,” Bermeo said. “[That] continues to give me hope and strength even with all the ongoing uncertainty.”