How One Woman Creates Resistance in the Face of a Seemingly Impenetrable Government

By Sophie M. '28

Disclaimer- The subject of this profile has requested anonymity to be able to fully continue her paramount work.

The resistance against mass deportation of immigrants in the United States is a silent yet powerful force.While the government holds tens of thousands of immigrants in detention centers, without criminal charges, heroes across the country work under the surface to aid immigrants and help them gain asylum in the US.

One San Francisco resident may seem like all the rest- she loves to explore the city’s beautiful parks, walk through the Presidio’s trails, and spend time with her family and friends. However, there’s more to her than meets the eye; she spends her days fighting alongside the hidden resistance to ICE. 

Her parents found welcome in the United States through a Spanish-speaking church community, and went on to take care of new immigrant families coming to the US, teaching their daughter the import of caring for those who may feel lost and alone: “I saw at that time how difficult it was for families to immigrate here and to try to fit into communities, and the kinds of problems that they had. I also saw how valuable it was for them to have a community.”

Now an adult, this woman is stepping into her parents’ shoes as she works tirelessly for the safety of immigrants in this country. She has seen firsthand their emotional struggles as they live in fear of being detained and are treated like criminals, simply because they wanted a better life for their children, just like her parents once wanted a better life for her.

One of the hardest parts of her job, she says, is watching asylum seekers realize “that [even] if they try to do the right thing, it doesn't always work out.” One of the most difficult things immigrants have to deal with, she reflects, is “The feeling that they're not wanted in this country.”

Since President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024, he’s sent over 20,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers into workplaces, schools and churches. For American immigrants, and those fighting for immigrant rights, the power of ICE agents can make the battle seem impossible. However, she’s found ways to push through the struggle and keep striving to improve the country.

“It is uphill, but when there's such a strong community that I work with here… our belief and our faith in God…gives us courage to continue to do it,” she says. Her courage to stand up for what she believes in should be a model for all of us; Those of us that understand the injustice but watch it passively, and those who listen blindly to President Trump and ignore the outrage before their eyes should strive to emulate her and fight for the rights of immigrants.

So take the next step, “just to be there, to listen to someone, helps both the individual in need, and the person who has the opportunity to help.” So be that person, and reach out a hand to someone who might be facing fear of deportation. It’s up to the people of this country to right our government’s wrong, and that change starts with a single hero, like this woman. She’s a hero because she sees injustice in the world, and works to fix it. A single voice can make change- Will you be the next to raise yours?