Hundreds of protesters lined the corners of Herndon and Nees avenues on Sunday, Jan. 12, equipped with signs and clothing that displayed messages like “el pueblo está en las calles exigiendo libertad,” which translates to “the town is in the streets, demanding liberty.”
Honking, tire burnouts, a live band and cries of injustice rang from morning and well into the night.
Organized mainly through social media sites like TikTok, the demonstration was in response to recent concerns for the safety of Mexican immigrants in the Central Valley amid online rumors and sightings of unannounced U.S. border patrol (CBP) sweeps in towns like Bakersfield, Fresno and more.
With Donald Trump’s inauguration just days away, tensions are high for some in the Latino community as many anticipate the president-elect’s highly boasted mass deportation sweeps.
Protesters, both young and old, came together in solidarity with those whose citizenship status remains in the air and to which the fear of deportation looms.
For some, it was the limited opportunities that immigrants face that inspired them to speak out.
“I worked in the field for two years before I got into college, and I saw so many [from] our culture out there, so many people that are held down,” said Elias Herrera. “There’s not much opportunity for them. Mexicans are some of the hardest workers that there are out there. Even if they’re sick, even if they have a cold, a fever, it doesn’t matter. They’re always out there.”
For Herrera, the struggle for employment is all too real.
“I just graduated from Fresno City, the automotive program, and I can’t even get into a shop here because I don’t have any type of documents or any work permits or anything,” Herrera said. “So I basically am just held down… the fields are always out there. There’s an opportunity for me, but it just sucks that I can’t grow as much as I would want to.”
Many protesters were accompanied by their children.
“[I brought my daughter] to show her core values and to let her know that she comes from a long lineage of fighters and empowered people,” said Lydia Hernandez. “To show that even now in 2025 we’re still fighting for rights, for myself, for her, for her future generation. And I want her to know that she can exercise her voice and that she, you know, is powerful.”
Hoisted on her shoulders, Hernandez’s little girl was featured across several Instagram stories throughout the day.
For all, the demonstration was impactful and moving.
“This protest meant so much to me coming from the small town of Corcoran,” said Maya Cruz. “I’m a granddaughter to immigrant field workers. I grew up with kids who didn’t have papers. My mom’s parents came here for a better life.”
The running theme of Sunday’s gathering: unity.
“The Latino and Mexican communities need to stand together because there’s a whole corrupt convicted felon in office using his hate to fuel people against us,” Cruz said. “We must stand together. We’re not free ‘til everyone is.”
As the sun withdrew, the chants continued and blue and red sirens illuminated the night as police watched on and even blocked off one side of Blackstone Ave. from El Paso Avenue to Nees Avenue.
While Trump will have power over immigration and deportation policy, these ‘mass deportations’ may not be all that they’ve been made out to be.
Instead, border security experts say a mass deportation under Trump would mean the involvement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in what would be a more focused and calculated operation rather than the scenes of broad sweeps of civilians that may come to mind.
Even then, a person who faces deportation can appeal in court unless they violate a previous removal order.
While ICE has the authority to carry out interior deportations, CBP does not as its jurisdiction only extends 100 miles beyond the U.S border.
However, 78 immigrants have been detained by border patrol in both Fresno and Kern Counties over the last few days. These cases were said to have been targeted due to criminal suspicions.
As ICE has no duty to inform local law enforcement agencies of its operations or their extent, how long their stay in the Central Valley will last is unclear.