In Reno’s shadow of ICE raids, Latinas build community of resilience

A group of women in Reno lean on one another as they grapple with ICE raids in their community.

As the primary cleaning supervisor for 14 Latinas, Luisa’s* typical workday begins around 7 a.m. She and the women on her team gather for roughly 45 minutes before starting their shift at a business in Reno, using this essential period to drink coffee and chat. But they’re not just catching up on miscellaneous things—instead, they gather to share updates from family and friends about the latest immigration raids.

“‘Did you hear about what happened in Carson City?’” Luisa says, relaying the story of a friend. “‘My husband’s supervisor told him to go home because they said ICE was there doing inspections.’”

“We talk about this every morning, at lunch breaks, and even after work, and I tell them I am tired of talking about this because it breaks my heart, and it’s so hard to have this ongoing anxiety,” Luisa says.

Her anxiety about immigration and deportation isn’t because she’s overly sensitive—it’s a feeling of anguish that is affecting an entire population. A recent Pew Research Center survey showed that 42% of Latinos worry that they or someone close to them could be deported. Luisa explains that the fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is always on her mind—especially if she or the women she works with see an unmarked van pull up or if a stranger comes near them. 

Luisa takes her role and responsibility among her coworkers seriously, and says she tries to prepare them for the unimaginable. For example, Luisa explains that they all carry a paper with important phone numbers and at least $100 in their wallets. If they are deported to Mexico, they will have cash on hand and be able to contact their family. 

Luisa says the true fear doesn’t lie in being taken away to a country some have never lived in—it’s more about leaving your family behind. What will happen to their children? What will become of the life they have built? 

“This is why they are prepared,” Luisa says, “They know what to do. They know not to say anything if ICE comes for them. But at the same time, they’re unsure if their fear will overpower them when the time comes.” 

In the months since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, rumors of raids in Nevada began to circulate. While there’s never an official warning about where ICE will be conducting raids, the Latino community often relies on social media or word of mouth to find out if ICE is in their neighborhood. This type of communication, however, can often lead to misinformation. Unconfirmed ICE sightings on social media just invoke more fear, leading many to stay indoors. It’s a cycle that’s heightened by the magnitude of raids when they do come. 

Just this week, for example, officials with the Nevada Immigration Coalition (NIC) said ICE agents conducted raids that led to the detainment of 30 to 35 individuals. 

“ICE has been deploying plainclothes officers and unmarked vehicles to conduct targeted enforcement in northern Nevada, creating a chilling effect that is keeping immigrant families from safely accessing their own elected representatives to share their stories as we advocate for a better future,” said Leo Murrieta, executive director at Make the Road Nevada, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Latine and working-class communities of color in Nevada. 

 

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Luisa said the one person the community can rely on to tell them the truth and offer support is Father Edgar of St. Peter Canisius Catholic Church in Sun Valley. She says he’s become an “immigration influencer” because his Facebook page is filled with helpful legal advice from Latino lawyers and provides immigration information.

“Father Edgar is always involved and is doing [Facebook] Lives and keeping us informed,” Luisa says. “He’s done interviews at the detention centers. He has spoken to local police. He’s even had the sheriff speak at the church, and told us ‘there’s nothing to be afraid of.’” 

Despite their reassurances, Luisa has a plan for her coworkers in case the worst happens. 

“The lady at the front desk knows the situation of various workers,” Luisa says hesitantly, “and she has a walkie-talkie, so if she sees something suspicious, she will call me and give me a code. If ICE shows up, I have a key to the attic, and we’ve put water up there because we never know how long they’ll have to be up there. I will message the women on our WhatsApp group chat and tell them to go to the attic until they are gone.” 

Luisa adds that about half of the women don’t have documentation, and even those who do said they would go to the attic with their coworkers in solidarity, even if it means facing consequences for them. 

“They’re scared, too, because no one is safe at this point.” 

*We’ve changed her name to protect her safety.