By Duda Maciel
Students, advocates and legal experts gathered on April 1 in Tawes Hall at the University of Maryland for a panel on immigration rights, highlighting growing fear, increased surveillance and limited access to resources for immigrant communities.
The Chi chapter of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. hosted the event, which was sponsored by many groups including the National Association of Hispanic Journalists UMD chapter and the U.S. Latina/o Studies program Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society.
Panelists said the current moment feels different — not necessarily because immigration enforcement is new, but because of how widespread and visible its effects have become.
According to federal data, immigration arrests have increased in recent years, reflecting a broader expansion of enforcement efforts nationwide.
Yakie Palma, a second grade teacher and co-founder of the activist group Prince George’s Immigrant Rights Collective, said the fear has become constant, even for young children.
“I have students who tell me they’re scared to come to school because they don’t know if their parents will still be home when they get back,” Palma said.
She added that what once felt avoidable now feels inevitable for many families.
“It’s not a matter of if this is going to happen, it’s when,” she said.
Immigration attorney Astrid Diaz said even those who follow legal requirements are no longer protected from detention.
“People are afraid to show up to court, even when they’re doing everything right,” Diaz said.
“This is by design,” she said, explaining that policies are making processes more difficult to access in order to pressure individuals to leave on their own.
The impact of these policies extends beyond legal systems and into families’ daily lives.
Paula Barroso, a community advocate who immigrated to the United States from Mexico, shared how her husband was detained and deported, leaving her to support their three children on her own.
“My kids have been really affected,” Barroso said. “I try to stay strong for them … I cry when they’re not watching.”
Advocates said stories like Barroso’s are becoming increasingly common, with many families losing their primary source of income after a detention, forcing them to move multiple people into a single room to stay afloat, while others struggle to access basic resources.
Sandra Gutierrez, a bilingual educator and community organizer, said mutual aid efforts are helping fill those gaps.
“Mutual aid recognizes that these are systemic inequalities,” Gutierrez said.
Organizations are providing food deliveries, financial assistance and connections to legal and mental health resources, she said.
Palma said that even accessing those resources can be difficult.
“There are so many barriers that make it so our communities don’t access what they need or deserve,” she said.
Mental health has also become a growing concern, especially as families navigate trauma and uncertainty with limited support.
Panelists emphasized the importance of organizing and policy change beyond direct aid.
Erica Puentes, a Progressive Maryland legislative coordinator, emphasized the need for immigrant communities to show up in legislative spaces where policies affecting them are decided.
“We don’t have access, and that’s exactly why we have to be there,” Puentes said.
Panelists also pointed to the role of education and coalition-building on campus, urging students to engage with local organizations and work together across groups.
Nancy Mirabal, a historian and professor in the U.S. Latina/o Studies program, encouraged students to continue pushing forward despite the challenges.
“They want you to stop dreaming,” Mirabal said. “Because that is the most threatening. Your most radical act is to be what they are the most afraid of.”
Featured Image: The April 1 panel brought together educators, attorneys and community organizers to address challenges facing immigrant communities. Photo by Duda Maciel.