Growing up Catholic, artist Ernesto Yerena remembers the welcome sign displayed in his grandmother’s Mexicali home, declaring: “Este hogar es Catolico.” (This is a Catholic household).
The sign, featuring an image of the Virgen de Guadalupe, resembled a laminated business card, and was often taped outside homes to keep away non-Catholic religious solicitors. It’s been ubiquitous in Mexican and Mexican American households.
Yerena, who’s known for his protest art, left the church decades ago, but the Virgen de Guadalupe — who many see as a protector of migrants — continues to be a source of inspiration.
His recent pro-Palestinian print, for example, places the Virgen’s iconic image against a kaffiyeh-patterned backdrop in red and green, the colors that appear on both the Mexican and Palestinian flags.
Yerena’s latest is a rendition of that infamous Catholic sign, but with a different purpose. Instead of hindering non-Catholic religious solicitors, his Virgen de Guadalupe card is meant to impede U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from entering immigrant households.
“I grew up seeing that graphic, and I’ve always thought to myself, the moment I get to subvert it, I’m going to do it,” said Yerena, whose studio is in Boyle Heights.
Yerena’s version is larger and proclaims, “Este hogar no le abre la puerta a I.C.E.” (This house does not open the door to I.C.E). It takes the form of a “Know Your Rights” card and features the image of the Virgen with text in Spanish and English, stating that ICE cannot legally enter without permission or a valid warrant issued by a court and signed by a judge.
“This is a no ‘Knock & Talk’ zone!” the card reads.
The back of the card gives further instructions on what immigrants should do if ICE knocks on their door, advising them not to open their doors and to ask agents to identify themselves.
The idea emerged as news spread in February of a reported “large-scale” immigration enforcement action that was expected across Los Angeles. Immigrant rights advocates sprung into action. Activists patrolled L.A. streets to alert communities of any potential ICE activity. Attorneys warned of ICE conducting “knock and talk” practices that a federal judge last year found to be unlawful and unconstitutional.
“I wanted to do something that kind of deters them [ICE] from the moment they get up to the door,” Yerena said.
Yerena’s card has been printed thousands of times, making its way to local businesses such as Picaresca Barra de Cafe in Boyle Heights and churches like St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in South Central L.A. Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo, or CIELO, has also distributed the cards. Yerena posted the image on Instagram and has given the public free access to a PDF of the card.
Several Instagram users, religious or not, noted they would be printing the cards, including people from Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and across L.A.
“I grew up Catholic, but I don’t feel close to that religion at all nor do I practice it. However, I love nuestra Virgen De Guadalupe. La Virgencita con una mirada, se siente paz,” one commenter said.
Jorge Nuño, a graphic designer and owner of SCLA Print in South Central L.A., is among those who took interest. He said he printed 20,000 Virgen cards after seeing Yerena’s Instagram post. Prior to that, Nuño had already printed 40,000 of the red “Know Your Rights” cards that have been distributed across the city.
“This is a great idea,” Nuño said. “The red cards are good for individual use, but if you’re at your home, this is a good addition to the campaign.”
“We’re all Catholic, but we just don’t practice it. It’s all very cultured and weaved in our community. If that’s a way to grab people’s attention, I think that’s the way to do it,” he added.
Nuño promoted the Virgen cards on Instagram.
He said several people have stopped by to pick up the cards, noting that they planned to drop some off at their daycare, at their local library and at church for Ash Wednesday.
“Everyone has their own unique story of how they want to help. It’s really moving to see individuals saying, I want to help,” he said.
“I have a lot of love for the Eastside, so it’s like South Central and East L.A. just coming together doing cool stuff,” Nuño said.