Mariah Lynn
Growing up and living in Chicago, I’ve always loved and taken pride in my Mexican heritage. My grandparents came years ago to receive better opportunities and they worked hard to build a life from scratch. Their experiences taught me about resilience and not forgetting the importance of remembering your roots. Yet, these days I can’t help but feel afraid. The city my grandparents helped shape isn’t safe for people like us anymore. When I hear about ICE raids taking place in Chicago, it’s a different perspective for me. Seeing people like me being dragged and thrown into cars is now a reality. The thought that it could happen to someone I know or even me, doesn’t leave my mind. I can’t help but to imagine the idea that a simple drive to work or a shopping trip could mean I might not return home. No one should have to live with that kind of worry.
For as long as I’ve lived, I have always believed in “What’s done in the dark will come to light”. Yet, I’ve only been able to see the dark. There isn’t a moment where I don’t think about my family or those I love and have friendships with. I think about my family constantly. What if my parents, uncles, aunts, or even cousins were to get randomly stopped? What if an officer chose to question them just because of their accent, skin color, or looks? That fear is a heavy weight on me.
I no longer feel comfortable in places I used to feel safe in. I’m always on edge at some point in my day. Right now, I don’t feel safe anywhere, not at work, not even in my quiet neighborhood, which seems like a nice area for a casual walk. I’m more cautious than ever, locking doors quickly, reaching my destinations more carefully, and at times, I find myself getting more anxious when I see a police car, worrying that ICE might be lurking nearby. As an 18-year-old citizen, I fear being stopped while driving alone and not knowing what I should do.
Despite being a U.S. citizen, that doesn’t change the fear I feel. It’s not all about paperwork, it’s about being made to feel like you don’t belong in the place you call home. It’s about how raids and arrests can rip through neighborhoods, leaving kids frightened and families broken.
What’s remarkable is how my friends and other teenagers are stepping up to protect each other. On Instagram and TikTok, people from all backgrounds are sharing updates about where ICE might be located or if they’re undercover. They’re posting warnings and specific locations, urging everyone to steer clear of those areas. It’s a network of awareness and support that really shows the strength of our generation. Even between the fear, we find ways to look out for one another. Still, I don’t see anyone with more power putting this to a stop. Those who are turning in immigrants in exchange for money, see the act as nothing more than a transaction. If someone from a white family were to go missing or face being taken away, the president would probably rush to make a statement for the whole nation to see. Police would flood the streets searching, every station would be on high alert, and phones across the country might light up with emergency notifications. The world would stop to pay attention, because it’s them.
If I had the chance to talk to the president, I’d say, “You need to put your differences aside and try to understand the true impact of these raids. They don’t just target “criminals”. They hit communities, people on the street, parents and even kids in their school parking lot. They strip away the peace of those who simply want to live, work, and care for their families. You can’t say you’re protecting the country while traumatizing the very people who help build it every single day.”
We shouldn’t have to live in fear about whether or not our loved ones will return home. ICE doesn’t offer safety, it never really has. All ICE ever did was bring fear and harm innocent lives. That fear doesn’t just affect immigrants. It impacts all of us who grew up loving those who came here with nothing but hope and the dream for a better life.
By Mariah Lynn, Richards High School, Senior
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