#8 ¿Que pasó? with Señor B - week of 5/19

Ximena Arias Cristobal On Bail

Familia, remember that heartbreaking story of the 19-year-old student who was detained by immigration? Well, we finally have some buenas noticias to share on her case, and it’s a breath of fresh air.

Just to recap, this young woman was pulled over, supposedly for an illegal turn, and then arrested because she didn't have a driver's license. The situation was already upsetting, but then we learned the kicker: she never even made that illegal turn! Turns out, the cops admitted they got the wrong car, and her initial case was dismissed.

Despite that, she still spent over 10 agonizing days in detention. The good news is she has finally been released on bail! 🥳 It’s a huge relief to know she's safe for now.

Claro, this doesn't mean her journey is over, and the fight continues. But getting her out and back with her loved ones is a critical step forward. Her story, sadly, isn't unique, and it just goes to show why we have to keep pushing, keep advocating, and keep shining a light on these injustices. ¡La lucha sigue, but today we acknowledge this win!

@senor_barragan

Glad she’s is out and safe #ximenaariascristobal #dreamer #undocumentedimmigrants #immigration

83 Year Old Mexican Immigrant Graduates From College

This past week, we saw a story that genuinely makes your heart swell with pride and reminds us what true perseverance looks like. I'm talking about Rafael Aguirre, whose graduation pictures absolutely exploded online, inspiring hella people!

Can you imagine? Photos of him in his cap and gown were shared over 7 MILLION times! This incredible achievement also made him one of the oldest graduates from Amarillo College. ¡Felicidades, Don Rafael!

According to his family, he migrated from Mexico when he was young. His journey is a powerful testament to the dreams and hard work of so many in our community. And get this – he mentioned he might even start sharing his full story on social media soon! I don't know about you all, but I'll definitely be looking out for that. Sería increíble escuchar más.

Honestly, stories like Rafael's are such a powerful reminder for all of us: it is absolutely, positively never too late to chase your dreams, especially when it comes to education. What an amazing example he's set! So inspiring.

@senor_barragan

If he can do it, we can too ✊🏽 #texas #graduation #mexico #immigration

Green Card Holder Detained After Vacation

This week brought some really troubling news for Maximo Londonio, a green card holder from the Philippines, who was detained when he arrived back home to Seattle. This isn't someone who just arrived; he's been a long-time legal migrant here and has traveled out of the country multiple times before without any issues.

His situation is scary reminder that this isn't just about targeting the "bad immigrant," a narrative they love to push. Maximo is a legal permanent resident, and his detention raises serious questions and a lot of fear. Esto es algo que nos afecta a todos.

What’s even more heartbreaking is that his family says they haven't heard anything about his wellbeing since he was detained.

If you or your loved ones have plans to travel internationally, especially now, tengan mucho cuidado. Be aware, be prepared, and know your rights as much as possible. We're keeping Maximo and his family in our thoughts and hoping for his swift release and some answers. This is exactly why we need to stay informed and vigilant.

@senor_barragan

Praying for him and his family #filipino #immigration #lamigra #phillipines #seattle

People Celebrating ICE

Lately, some of you might have seen it, there are these disturbing pages popping up, actually celebrating la migra and encouraging people to snitch on our community members. Es algo verdaderamente feo.

These pages often have a few nasty things in common. They tend to specifically target the Mexican community, and their rhetoric often pushes this false and racist idea that only brown people can be here without proper documents, completely ignoring the reality of immigration. The talking points they use? Disgustingly similar to what you'd hear from straight-up white supremacist sites. Pura basura.

So, what do we do? If you run into one of these pages, don't just scroll past. Report them immediately for hate speech and abusive content. And just as importantly, let the rest of the community know so they can do the same and be aware. Share screenshots with trusted groups if it helps identify and report them faster.

Look, we know these cowards will likely just try to create more pages to harass and spread their odio. But that doesn't mean we do nothing. The more we report them, the more we disrupt them, the harder we make it for them to operate and poison our online spaces. Let's make it clear this hate isn't welcome and we'll stand against it, juntos.

@senor_barragan

Gente sin vergüenza #immigration #mexico #dreamer #indigenous

Raids Outside of Immigration Court

We need to talk about a new and very alarming tactic reportedly being used by ICE: they're targeting folks who are showing up for their immigration court appointments. We're now seeing multiple instances where ICE agents are apparently waiting for people outside the courthouse and immediately detaining them.

What's just as concerning is that these situations often mirror other troubling encounters – reports indicate that agents sometimes don't introduce themselves and may not show a warrant. This is happening to people who are doing exactly what they're supposed to do: attending their required court hearings.

If you or someone you know has to go to immigration court, please, por favor, do not go alone if you can help it. Try to have your lawyer accompany you, or at the very least, a trusted family friend or community member who can observe, document, and help keep you safe by being a witness.

This tactic is incredibly cruel because it forces people into an impossible decision: risk being ambushed and detained if they show up to court, or face the severe consequences of missing an important court date, which can also lead to a deportation order. Es una trampa, plain and simple. Stay alert, share this information, and look out for each other. We need to be more prepared than ever.

@senor_barragan

This is not okay #inmigracion #immigration #latino #latina #undocumentedimmigrants