On Recent ICE Raids and the Targeting of the Latino Community

This past weekend in Los Angeles, we witnessed what too many in our community have long experienced—our Latino families, who love and contribute to the US economy and culture, being targeted, threatened, humiliated, and put in danger. Immigration enforcement actions are once again appearing at workplaces, schools, and even community events, tearing families apart, stoking fear, and disrupting the lives of hard-working people who are the backbone of our economy.

We are deeply concerned about the reports of green card holders being targeted, families detained at immigration hearings, and even U.S. citizens profiled based on how they look. That is not enforcement. That is discrimination.

We must ask: why now? And why us?

These actions do not feel like they are solely about immigration status or public safety. They seem to reflect something deeper—an attempt to silence a community that is growing in size, strength, and influence. Latinos are building businesses, educating future leaders, leading civic institutions, and shaping the future of this nation—and that progress should be celebrated, not criminalized.

Our stories are those of heroes. People who crossed borders and oceans, who left behind everything they knew—not for themselves alone, but for the next generation. Their courage to face the unknown lives in us today. It drives us to build businesses, raise families, seek higher education, and speak truth to power.

According to the 2025 U.S. Latino GDP Report by UCLA Center for Latino Health and Culture, if Latinos in the U.S. were their own country, our GDP would rank fifth in the world. In California, where Latinos represent over 40% of the population, we are the foundation of the state’s position as the fourth largest economy on the globe.

Here in the Sacramento region, Latinos are leading—in business, education, government, technology, health care, and beyond. We are entrepreneurs and job creators. We are students, educators, parents, and innovators. We are the workforce behind some of the region’s most celebrated industries, including our world-class food and hospitality scene.

At the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting the dignity and humanity of all members of our community. We call on our elected leaders, partners, and business allies to speak up, stand up, and act.

To get involved, click HERE. 

For businesses, click HERE.

Let me be clear: these raids in Los Angeles are not just enforcement tactics; they are unprecedented intimidation tactics. They are designed to push us into the shadows. But we have never belonged in the shadows—and we will not return to them.

Now is the time for moral courage—not just in words, but through collective action. We must rise—not through fear or violence—but through our economic power, our civic participation, and our unshakable unity.

Latinos are not just part of this country—we are helping lead it forward. With resilience in our roots and a new generation rising with purpose, we are building a stronger, more inclusive America—one that uplifts us all.

— Cathy Rodriguez Aguirre

President & CEO of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

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