CAMPUS: Protestors let their voices be heard on campus

By Isabella Karyme Equivel
Bridge contributing writer
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2025

An array of protests against mass deportation and immigration policy opened the eyes of many. As a border city, Laredo is affected, and many in the city fear for their life and safety.

Texas A&M International University’s chapter of the Phi Iota Alpha fraternity inspired a chain of organizations to participate in a rally to voice its concerns on immigration policies. It is the oldest Latino fraternity in the world, commonly known as Phiota/Phiotas. The current president of the TAMIU chapter is Rodolfo Rendon.

TAMIU students and Laredo community members protested Feb. 26 against the reversal of DEI and the threat to mass immigration under President Donald Trump’s administration at the breezeway on campus.

“Being in a border town that has a very close relationship with its sister city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, there may be some damage done to relations with both the city and Mexico on a larger level,” Rendon said.

Laredo students and the Hispanic/immigrant majority population were directly affected by this. For example, parents are not taking their children to school, skipping out on doctor’s appointments, staying home etc. This is all negatively impacting the community socially, environmentally and economically.

Frequent debate centers on informed people versus misinformed people, full of misconceptions and realizing it too late, if at all. It’s common to see people root for political figures their parents believe in, instead of forming their own thoughts, beliefs and votes.

“Some people believe illegal immigrants receive free benefits and do nothing but waste taxpayer money,” Rendon said. “Quite the contrary; illegal immigrants often contribute more to government programs like Social Security than some legal citizens, and yet they couldn’t possibly receive the majority of those benefits because of their legal status. A lot of hatred toward immigrants has been fueled by lies and misinformation, which I encourage everyone to do proper research on—stay informed about political issues in your area, and try to participate in this event if you or people you know can.”

Staying informed is important, as well as staying involved with what is going on around the world, especially in a border city and when voicing one’s thoughts. Anasofi Del Prado, a volunteer who attended the protest, said it is important to make an impact.

“There’s a lot people can do,” Del Prado said. “You can donate to organizations that help immigrants with legal support, volunteer your time or call your representatives to demand better policies. Even just sharing information and having conversations with friends and family makes a difference.”

The National Immigration Law Center offers a variety of resources and explanations on its website.

“This Know Your Rights resource provides immigrants and their allies with accurate information so that immigrants can know their rights, understand the possible risks of participating in protests, and feel empowered to participate meaningfully, safely and fully in our democracy,” according to the National Immigration Law Center’s website.

This allows people to receive resources/accurate information on their rights, risks and safety, which can allow community members to feel confident and empowered. Whether an illegal immigrant or a legal citizen, everyone has a responsibility to know their rights.

There are many cases when citizens who “fit” the description of a Hispanic/Mexican are likely to get targeted. Both Del Pardo and Rendon shared how important it is to know one’s rights. Both spoke about different ways to understand rights.

“Know your rights,” Del Pardo said. “If you or someone you know is facing immigration challenges, it is important to understand those rights. You do not have to open the door for ICE unless they have a signed warrant. You have the right to remain silent and the right to speak to a lawyer before answering any questions. If you’re stopped, stay calm and ask if you’re free to leave—if not, ask for a lawyer.”

As Rendon expressed, the specific issue they are protesting is to help others become knowledgeable of their rights and to spread informed and useful information.

“When discussing planning for this protest, we agreed mass deportations, in particular, were a very problematic practice, especially if it negatively impacted innocent people,” Rendon said.

He said improvements to the legal immigration system are something his organization would like to advocate for, specifically so immigrants don’t feel like they have to resort to dangerous journeys for better lives.

Rendon and Del Pardo, both expressed how important it is for Hispanic-based communities to show support for their members. They said the world is constantly changing and the time for change is now and people should be part of it.