Newsletter: Protests against ICE growing in San Diego
Plus, a running group for queer women and immigration arrests at court hearings.
Greetings everyone, buenas and bom dia,
Protests against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are growing across San Diego County as the federal agency ramps up arrests.
An ICE raid at the South Park restaurant Buona Forchetta around dinnertime on a recent Friday evening seems to have ignited outrage for many in the community. From demonstrations in front of the restaurant and rallies outside the Federal Building downtown to protests near Camp Pendleton, San Diegans are showing up to express their frustration with the agency's tactics.
Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee's US/Mexico Border Program, said the strategies that ICE officers are using to meet their increased quotas of 3,000 arrests per day jolted many community members into action.
“People are feeling they can no longer sit and watch as it's taking place,” Rios said. “It very well could be affecting their loved ones.”
Yusef Miller of the North County Equity and Justice Coalition and Black Deported Veterans of America spoke at a press conference attended by Daylight reporter Marco Guajardo outside of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building last week. He said that ICE's actions remind him of patrols that hunted down Black people in northern states and sent them south prior to the end of slavery.
“There was a time where if you crossed the border of the Mason-Dixon Line, that Black people faced the same types of deportation, arrests and movements back into slavery,” Miller said. “It was wrong then, and it's wrong now.”
The Trump administration appears fixated on protests that began over the weekend in Los Angeles, where it has sent California National Guard and U.S. Marines. The administration initially indicated that the Marines would come from Camp Pendleton, but the U.S. Northern Command instead deployed 700 troops from Twentynine Palms, California.
It's not clear why the administration changed which troops would be sent. San Diegans protested outside of Camp Pendleton on Sunday after the announcement.
Patrick Saunders, who said he'd served in the Air Force, told Daylight's Guajardo that he'd gathered fellow veterans to hold signs showing support for the Marines and encouraging them not to take action against civilians.
“It's their duty to disobey unlawful orders,” Saunders said. “If they feel that they're given an order that violates either the Constitution or their own morals, it's their ethical duty to not follow that order, and people that are following orders will be held accountable in the future, just like the Nuremberg trials in Germany after World War II.”
Rios said the arrests — which often feel like disappearances due to lack of transparency from the government about detainees’ whereabouts — are part of a larger issue than immigration itself. Rios said the federal government's arrest of a labor leader participating in the Los Angeles protests and a threatening letter sent to a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that works with immigrants are examples of the administration's moves to silence opposition.
He believes that's also motivating people to take action.
“It's really about how do we define the future of democracy in the United States and obviously immigration becomes a vehicle by which that conversation is taking place,” Rios said. “Do we continue to value that immigrants who are not citizens of this country should also be protected by constitutional rights? Should they have access to due process? That line is getting blurred.”
Meanwhile, advocates continue to patrol neighborhoods to watch for ICE activity and to gather at the San Diego Immigration Court to document and monitor arrests happening there.
A quick announcement: we're now partnering with Capital & Main to republish some of its journalists’ work, including some of my articles. You'll see a note at the top of any story that was originally written for Capital & Main.
— Kate Morrissey
Queer women find home at LEZ Run SD
Lez Run SD is a North Park run club where queer women and non-binary folks can find community in each other. Founder Brittany Page said although there are LGBTQIA+ running clubs in San Diego, there aren't any that specifically aim to bring queer women together. Since its founding in 2023, the club has grown to 40-50 runners and walkers each week.
— Brittany Cruz-Fejeran
ICE officers arrest people at immigration court
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are detaining people who show up for their hearings at the San Diego Immigration Court in what advocates described as a coordinated effort with the agency's lawyers to switch their cases to a fast-track process that doesn't require a judge's order to deport them. Legal observers and community members have documented arrests outside courtrooms, including of people with ongoing cases. Many of those detained have ended up at Otay Mesa Detention Center.
— Marco Guajardo
Untreated colon cancer in ICE detention
A Guatemalan man told officials at Otay Mesa Detention Center that he had colon cancer when he arrived in January. He said he still hasn't received treatment, and his symptoms are getting worse.
— Kate Morrissey
Other news
The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to approve a version of the budget that restores some of the cuts to libraries and rec centers, but not all of them, according to KBPS. The mayor now has five business days to veto or modify the budget.
The council received plenty of pushback on Friday over potential cuts as well as calls to cut funding for automated license plate readers, which advocates worry are helping ICE target community members.
Tacos El Franc, a Tijuana staple that received Michelin recognition last year, opened its first U.S.-based location in National City, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The restaurant’s history dates back to 1974, when it began as a street food cart under owner Javier Valadez.
Upcoming Events
San Diego County Fair: The annual event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds will run through July 6 and is pet-themed this year.
June 14
LGBTQ Vets Pride Month Hike: Join LGBTQ+ veterans for a Pride Month hike in Mission Trails fostering connection and well-being in nature. RSVP online. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Mission Trails, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119
Ramona Pride: Organized by Ramona Pride, this free family friendly community event at Collier Park starts off with a visibility walk followed by a community picnic that includes food and entertainment. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Collier Park, 626 E St., Ramona, CA 92065
Kinfolk Fest: SD Melanin is kicking off Juneteenth week with its annual music festival in Waterfront Park. Co-hosted by Tha SpeakerBoxx and Ramel Wallace, this year’s festival features DJ Birdy, DJ Nikki Giovanni, Clay Dub, Wifty and Dina Maeva. Tickets can be purchased online. 12:30-9:30 p.m., Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
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