🚨 ICE Raids Target Students and Activists: How Trump's Immigration Crackdown Reaches Beyond "Bad Guys"

Investigating how Trump's promises of targeting only criminals have given way to broader enforcement

Mar 28, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

The Trump administration is taking a much tougher approach to immigration enforcement than just targeting criminals as promised during the campaign. ⚖️ They're using an old wartime law from 1798 📜, checking tax records to find undocumented people 📊, and even revoking visas from international students who participated in protests about the war in Gaza 🌍.

ICE has wrongly detained some American citizens 🚔, and legal permanent residents are being told their status is a "privilege, not a right." Courts have blocked some deportations for now ⚖️⛔, but people in immigrant communities are living in fear 😟 while community organizations work to protect their rights and provide legal support 🤝⚖️.

🗝️ Takeaways

👮 Despite campaign promises to target only criminals, Trump's immigration enforcement is affecting undocumented people with no criminal history, legal visa holders, and even some U.S. citizens
🏛️ The administration has revived the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime statute used only three times before in U.S. history
🗣️ Over 300 student visas have been revoked, many targeting students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests
🌐 A "whole-of-government" approach includes the IRS, Pentagon, and State Department in immigration enforcement
⚖️ Courts have temporarily blocked deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, but the case may reach the Supreme Court
🛡️ Community resistance strategies include know-your-rights training, local organizing, and political engagement

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Are Immigrants Safe in America Under Trump? A Reality Check from the Resistance

¿Qué pasa, gente? It's been a turbulent few months since Trump took office again, and many of you have been reaching out asking about the safety of our immigrant communities.

As an Indigenous Chicano activist who's been in the trenches of this struggle since the first Trump era, I feel a responsibility to address what's happening and cut through the administration's propaganda.

The Current Landscape: A Hostile Environment

Let's be clear: despite the administration's claims that they're only targeting "bad guys," the reality on the ground tells a different story. We're witnessing an aggressive, whole-of-government approach to immigration enforcement that's affecting documented and undocumented immigrants alike—and even some American citizens.

The administration has been boasting about their immigration successes, with White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt enthusiastically praising recent arrests of alleged gang members. Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited El Salvador's "Terrorism Confinement Center"—a supermax prison where the U.S. has been sending allegedly undocumented migrants, particularly Venezuelans accused of gang affiliation.

During her visit, Noem ominously warned: "If you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face. First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted."

Qué miedo. Such intimidation tactics reveal the administration's approach: instill fear while providing minimal due process.

Who Is Being Targeted?

What's particularly concerning is who's being caught in this deportation dragnet. It's not just those with criminal records, despite what was promised during the campaign. The administration is targeting:

Undocumented immigrants with no criminal history - ICE data shows increasing arrests of people who are simply immigration violators without criminal records
Legal visa holders and students - Particularly those who have expressed political views opposing the war in Gaza or participated in campus protests
Green card holders - The message is clear: your legal permanent residence is a "privilege, not a right"
Even American citizens - There have been reports of U.S. citizens being erroneously detained by ICE

Let's look at some specific examples that highlight this approach:

The Targeting of Students and Activists

Earlier this month, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University was arrested near Boston and sent to an ICE facility in Louisiana. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell described her arrest as an "ambush." Her apparent crime? Co-authoring an op-ed in her student newspaper asking Tufts to divest from Israel.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the administration has revoked more than 300 student visas for similar reasons. In his words: "Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa."

Pinche hipocresía. This is the same administration that claims to champion free speech on college campuses.

The Alien Enemies Act: Resurrecting an 18th Century Law

Perhaps most alarming is the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act—a 1798 wartime statute that has only been used three times in U.S. history (during the War of 1812 and both World Wars)—to deport migrants. They've specifically used this to target Venezuelans, sending 238 men to El Salvador's notorious prison, with minimal transparency about who these individuals are or what crimes they allegedly committed.

While a U.S. appeals court recently upheld a decision to temporarily block deportations under this act, the administration seems determined to test its limits. This unprecedented application of a centuries-old law could drastically expand executive power over immigration if ultimately approved by the Supreme Court.

Whole-of-Government Approach

The administration isn't just using traditional immigration enforcement agencies. They're mobilizing the entire federal government:

The IRS is reportedly nearing an agreement with ICE to use tax ID information to track undocumented immigrants (yes, the same immigrants who are paying taxes)
The State Department is aggressively revoking visas
The Pentagon has become heavily involved in immigration operations
The Department of Justice is prioritizing immigration cases

Historical Context: How Does This Compare?

Some will point out that deportations happened under previous administrations too—President Obama was even nicknamed the "Deporter-in-Chief" by immigration activists. This is true, but the current approach differs in significant ways:

Who is being targeted: While previous administrations also deported large numbers of people, they generally prioritized those with serious criminal records. The current administration is clearly broadening its scope.
The rhetoric: The deliberate use of dehumanizing language and intimidation tactics, like Secretary Noem's prison visit video, is designed to instill maximum fear.
The legal mechanisms: The invocation of the Alien Enemies Act and other novel legal interpretations represent significant expansions of executive power.
The politicization: The targeting of students and others based on their political expression, particularly around the Gaza conflict, represents a dangerous merging of immigration policy with political retaliation.

Impact on Communities

The human cost of these policies is immense. Families are being separated. People who have built lives here for years are being uprooted. Communities are living in constant fear.

For those of us in immigrant communities, the psychological toll is enormous. Parents are creating emergency plans in case they're detained. Children are going to school wondering if their parents will be home when they return. Businesses are suffering as people avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.

A veces no puedo dormir pensando en todas las familias que están sufriendo. The weight of this injustice is crushing.

But beyond the immediate human suffering, these policies threaten to fundamentally reshape American society. They undermine our values of due process, free expression, and human dignity. They damage our standing in the world and our relationships with allies. And they weaken the social fabric that makes our communities strong.

What We Can Do: Building Resistance and Solidarity

Despite these challenges, there are reasons for hope. Throughout American history, movements for justice have faced tremendous obstacles and still prevailed. The current moment calls for a similar resolve.

Here's how we can respond:

Know Your Rights

Knowledge is power. Make sure you and your community understand basic rights:

You have the right to remain silent
You have the right to speak to an attorney
You do not have to open your door unless agents have a warrant signed by a judge
You have the right to refuse to sign documents without speaking to an attorney

Support Local Organizations

Across the country, incredible organizations are fighting for immigrant rights. Consider supporting:

Local immigrant rights coalitions
Legal aid organizations providing representation to immigrants
Community defense networks creating rapid response systems
Detention visitation programs supporting those in ICE custody

Engage Politically

While direct service and mutual aid are crucial, systemic change requires political engagement:

Contact your representatives about immigration legislation and enforcement practices
Support candidates who prioritize humane immigration policies
Register eligible voters in your community
Participate in public demonstrations and direct actions

Build Community Solidarity

The greatest protection against these policies is strong, unified communities:

Create neighborhood watch programs to alert community members of ICE presence
Establish accompaniment programs for those attending ICE check-ins or court dates
Develop emergency response plans for families at risk of separation
Build coalitions across different movements for social justice

A Final Note of Hope

No nos vamos a rendir. We will not surrender.

Throughout history, fascist movements have tried to scapegoat immigrants and other marginalized groups. They have never succeeded in breaking our spirit or erasing our humanity. This moment, difficult as it is, will be no different.

Remember that the current backlash comes precisely because of the progress we've made. Our communities are strong. Our movements are resilient. Our vision of a just immigration system—one that recognizes the dignity of all people and addresses the root causes of migration—is more compelling than their vision of walls and cages.

The road ahead will not be easy. There will be painful setbacks and difficult days. But if we stand together in solidarity, if we keep organizing and fighting, we will win.

Adelante, siempre adelante.

What actions are you taking in your community to support immigrant rights? Have you encountered resistance strategies that have been particularly effective? Share your experiences in the comments below.