Speakers who have chosen to remain anonymous out of safety are referred to as spokespersons, attendees or speakers in this article.
Roughly 140 students, community members and staff gathered at Storke Lawn on Jan. 28 in solidarity with people affected by federal immigration enforcement. Earlier that same day, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid in Eastside Santa Barbara, reportedly detaining one person and allegedly pushing and pepper-spraying individuals during an enforcement operation.
The vigil began at around 4:30 p.m. as organizers distributed candles. Shengyu Zhang / Daily Nexus
As of mid-January, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) has detained at least 1,430 people across the Central Coast in the last 13 months. I.C.E. activity has escalated nationwide, with 2025 marking the deadliest year within I.C.E. detention facilities in at least two decades, according to the Guardian.
On Wednesday morning, I.C.E. agents allegedly pushed one individual and pepper-sprayed another, according to a press release from the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD). The SBPD took statements from eyewitnesses, provided traffic control and arranged for medical assistance.
According to the Santa Barbara Independent, witnesses said community members helped the woman who was pepper-sprayed and called for medical assistance first. Several rapid response volunteers who are trained to monitor and document enforcement operations were present during the encounter.
A community volunteer with SBResiste, a local organization that monitors I.C.E activity, said she was “disappointed” by the lack of support from local authorities during the incident, a sentiment echoed by another rapid response volunteer at the UC Santa Barbara vigil.
The vigil began at around 4:30 p.m., with attendees carrying Latin American flags and signs which stated “Say their names,” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,” which translates to “The people united will never be divided,” among others.
An attendee holding a sign that reads “No one deserves to live in fear, La Raza Unida” alongside a photo of Keith Porter Jr. Shengyu Zhang / Daily Nexus
El Congreso, a student-led activist organization, was the primary organizer of the vigil, with other organizations delivering speeches throughout the event. Organizers distributed candles before Chicana and Chicano studies professor Ralph Armbruster-Sandoval and a member of El Congreso delivered opening remarks.
“I know many of us are carrying heavy emotions, anger, pain, sadness, hopelessness and fear, but what I see in front of me right now is a community united in the pursuit of justice and peace in the times we are living in,” a spokesperson for El Congreso said.
Following a moment of silence, Armbruster-Sandoval expressed his worry over the killings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Keith Porter Jr. and others by government entities. Armbruster-Sandoval highlighted the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis roughly five years prior. He also expressed solidarity with the student organizers before asking attendees to repeat the word “presente” or “present” after the names of people who died in an I.C.E. detention center or were killed during an operation were announced.
“Renee Good and all the other people we’re going to mention right now, every single one has gotten into my bloodstream, and immediately I feel like, ‘Gosh darn it, let’s get together with people,’” Armbruster-Sandoval said. “We need to hold space to be with one another in these moments where we’re traumatized.”
Organizers encouraged attendees to call out the names of people or communities they know who have been impacted by immigration enforcement. The callouts included “our queer and trans siblings who have passed on the way here,” “our undocumented mothers and fathers” and “farm workers,” among others.
Attendees then began a silent march to El Centro, a campus building that provides space for multiple Latine and multicultural student groups. The El Congreso spokesperson explained that the silent march was to “emphasize the mourning and the grief that we are struggling [with] within our community, especially with what happened this morning in Santa Barbara.”
The silent march to El Centro, which passed by the UCSB Library. Shengyu Zhang / Daily Nexus
Upon arriving at El Centro, attendees gathered around an ofrenda, a traditional altar which honors the deceased. Organizers at the front held signs and photos of individuals killed or detained by I.C.E. Speakers from several organizations proceeded to deliver speeches expressing solidarity with attendees.
One speaker shared their experience in a detention center. They described one of the center’s rules, which states that you can only wear one layer of clothing. They said they witnessed agents confiscate two of the three blankets a mother had placed on her child.
“It was the coldest night of my life. [To] their faces, I said this was not about basic protocol, but to make sure we knew that they had the power to do whatever they wanted,” the speaker said. “Despite experiencing all of this, I say to those fortunate enough that do not relate to any of this, educate yourself and the community around you.”
A spokesperson for UCSB Students for Justice in Palestine and others for Academics for Justice in Palestine discussed their “joint struggles.”
“We must demand from our administration, some of whom, I think are still here, to end contracts with any companies that contribute to the actions of I.C.E.,” the spokesperson for Academics for Justice in Palestine said. “More broadly, we must divest. Let’s be loud and clear, divestment now.”
A rapid responder with SBResiste proceeded to recap the morning’s events, saying local law enforcement has allegedly “been protecting” I.C.E. during enforcement operations.
Next, board members of Comunidad Latinx Graduación (CLG), a student-led graduation celebration based on Latine culture, expressed solidarity with the Latine and immigrant communities.
“We express our deepest condolences to everyone who has been affected,” a CLG board member said. “We share their frustration with the campus administration’s failure to recognize the injustices happening within our community and demand they listen to us.”
The vigil ended at El Centro, where organizers encouraged attendees to speak. Shengyu Zhang / Daily Nexus
The event then opened up to attendee participation, encouraging people to share their experiences and feelings with the audience.
“The Declaration of Independence is a very beautiful document. It starts with [the statement] that every human person deserves the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” an attendee said. “Today, we see that they first took away the pursuit of happiness, then they took away liberty. At this moment, as we know, they took away the right of life. But let me tell you, they can take many rights away from us, but they can never [and] will never take away the right to have hope.”
Another attendee read a poem about their experiences moving to the U.S. and missing their father’s funeral in Mexico because of their legal status.
“A kid couldn’t be with his dad because of your grown-up politics. But this kid will not rest until he makes a change, and this kid will grow up learning how to transform his rage,” the speaker read.
Another attendee became emotional when discussing the recent arrest of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos in Minneapolis.
“I have a four-year-old niece, and she’s scared of bees, and she comes running up to me, and I can’t imagine how scared that child and every other single child in the detention centers are,” the attendee said.
Other attendees discussed direct actions that people can take to inform themselves on rapid response networks and how to continue the conversation after the vigil.
At the end, organizers thanked attendees for coming and invited them to eat pastries from Cristino’s Bakery and coffee from Dart Coffee Co. One organizer mentioned that both businesses gave El Congreso the food for free upon learning what it was for.
On Friday, local elected officials will hold a press conference at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse to call upon the Trump administration to de-escalate immigration enforcement.
“Give yourself permission to take it in and then use it tomorrow, because today’s been a long day, but tomorrow we get to wake up,” an attendee said. “The sun comes out every day, we can meet it with love, with joy and remembering and knowing that there’s strength in every action that we take to stay around and move through this time.”
Methinks y’all need a vigil for those impacted by crimes of illegal immigrants….
Point.
Where is the vigil for those who have been the victims of violent illegal criminals? How about you sit down with the families of those who have been murdered and tell them why you oppose the arrest of criminals.
The Trump Presidency—A Fascist Returns to the United States with the Proud Boys and ICE (in the manner of Sylvia Plath) He comes back like winter— a frostbitten grin, the red tie a noose, dragging behind him a parade of boots and broken teeth. The Proud boys chant in the marrow, bone-drunk on myth, their fists bloom like iron roses in the cracked sidewalks of forgotten towns. ICE stalks the borders of sleep, cold as the womb of steel. Children folded into cages like origami grief, their names swallowed by fluorescent light. I watch from the attic of history, where… Read more »
Vigil for victims of violent illegals?
The vast majority of the illegals are not criminals–they are few and far between! This is merely baseless propaganda spewed from the mouth of Don the Con—that narcissistic “non compos mentis” that claims that he is a “stable genius,” yet won’t divulge his IQ scores to the general public to prove it! You can tell how mediocre his intelligence is by his written words! He attracts “the lowest common denominator” of the electorate to this day! He’s going to bankrupt this country just like he did his other six businesses. Just you wait and see! I can hardly wait for… Read more »
Every illegal here is a criminal. They broke federal law. Quit your gaslighting.
Which is a greater offense, murdering Mr. Pretti in cold blood by two ICE agents or simply being a non-violent Hispanic with a job and family and hurting no one?!
A Democrat just secured a significant victory in a Texas state Senate special election. Party strategists suggest that it indicates a strong voter motivation to reject Republican candidates and policies under the second Trump administration. I can hardly wait for the results coming in this November!
Who’s going to replace all the farmworkers in the Central Valley? Watch your food prices go up as a result!
Greater offense does not matter. BTW I personally did field work with my high school buddies to save money to attend UCSB – Americans will do those jobs. My mom and uncles picked grapes and cotton White as they were. You’re kind of @sshole who worried about who would pick the cotton when the slaves were freed. And as for murdering do you recall the Americans killed by illegals? Do the names Skylar Provenza and Fletcher Harris mean anything to you? Apparently not.
This nation was founded on immigrants! You’re a heartless moneyed individual, “cold as the womb of steel.” You and your kind make this nation look ugly to the rest of the world. They are really just laughing at your ilk, and I don’t blame them. Deport MAGA Nazis! Come November your kind will be the minority. Mark my words, despite Trump’s desperate attempts to rig the election.
News just out:
“Democrats crush Republicans in race for Congress, clinch historic high in latest Fox News Poll.” If you don’t like the message, attack the messenger! Is that your latest moronic modus operandi, Rob?
“Kid Rock’s MAGA music festival faced with fresh burn as two more performers drop out.”
These followers all claim to be “God-fearing.” What complete fools!
Only the feeble-minded fear the Godhead! Their despicable actions that follow them are but a testament to their profound limited ignorance.
Notice how that former titular head of Republican conservatism, George W. Bush, has yet to utter one word against the brutality of the ICE machine! By this omission, he shows to the world his complete moral bankruptcy. In fact, a large part of America has veered radically from its fundamental moral precepts. I have no idea how this malaise
will ultimately resolve itself. I’m afraid I foresee more bloodshed ahead at this point.
Methinks y’all don’t remember that Obama and Clinton deported far more than 47. Maybe spend less time on social media?
Let’s face it, the Republicans have lost this immigration issue in the coming election. It has completely backfired on them. Even MTG now says that MAGA is a lie! Now you want to deny my First Amendment rights, Tex. I will never be silenced.
its not the number of deportations its the manner.
You are proving the point about how inept and wrong this surge is. Obama deported more people but didnt kill citizens and disrupt cities he didnt like to do it. You are purposely blind if you dont see the difference and only see a total number
Right on. It’s a losing approach by the Republican juggernaut.
Good point Tex. Also some of the folks died in the process. Funny how one side has no memory.
You are the kind of person not even a mother could love – what a constant POS you are
I have different life experience than you. Therefore different priorities and pricing. You just drop insults when you know you are losing the argument. It’s a statistical fact that a majority of Americans want all illegal aliens gone. Too bad for the DemonRat voter base.
Is that why immigration and ice have tank Trumps already historically low approval ratings… The vast majority of Americans do not support what is happening not. You are delusional and just say you are winning an argument but the only thing you have proved is what an unyielding asshole you are. Democrats just took a seat in Texas you are factually wrong about damn near everything. And confidently wrong its amazingly funny
At least 60% of Americans don’t approve of the actions by ICE! Face the facts, Rob! I’m surprised you even graduated from UCSB! What was your ending GPA? That will tell this audience a lot about your seemingly myopic perspectives.
Rob is an old troll here. He mostly posts about himself -his degree and grad degree, how many languages he speaks…etc(). Mostly he has a 25–30-year-old world view that no longer fits the world and is a malcontent that the world is leaving him behind as irrelevant and unneeded- so he comes to his old college newspaper to try and mock 19-year-olds and make himself feel better. Super pathetic for a nearly 70-year-old man with nothing else in his life to fill it
How did the early church deal with heresy (specifically, doubting the Gospel of Thomas)? Answer: Excommunication, inquisition, and execution (by civil authorities) were used against the heretics who refused to recant! To all you “mainstream Christians” out there in cyberspace, this formed the foundational historical underpinnings of the early Christian faith— not the inherent Love of the ever-present “Christos” as depicted in the Thomas Gospel. Now there is a direct scientific method for attaining this level of consciousness–through the teachings of that 20th Century mystic saint, Paramhansa Yogananda. His methodology certainly does work and provides tangible positive results in daily… Read more »
By lying about Pretti and calling him a “domestic terrorist,” Noem is a co-conspirator to murder. So are Bovino and Stephen Miller. They covered up and interfered in a state investigation. They should all be charged with crimes!
Rob, just ignore ” Michael Reilly”. He is just a Republican shill posting extremist views to make Democrats look bad.
Michael W. Reilly (Class of 1974) I am 74 years old with minimal health issues at my age. Nice try “junior.” I was never, ever a Republican! I voted for McGovern in 1972 over “Tricky Dick.” In fact, the pathetic egotistical grifting by Trump and his immediate cronies is but a fitting evolution of the Republican ideology first started by Nixon. This shows to all the world the ultimate climax to their egotism and their attempt to hold power and sway over the masses. There will occur a final reckoning come this November, despite the delusional Mad King’s attempt to… Read more »
In fact, in the final campaign days of McGovern in ’72, Teddy Kennedy flew down to the Santa Barbara airport to rally mainly the UCSB student body, in which Isla Vista went overwhelmingly in his favor that year. Kudos to the UCSB student body! I had the fortunate experience to meet this man and shake his hand. I remember his hand felt very pudgy. I also possess to this day a signed personal letter (not with an autopen) written by then president-elect John F. Kennedy on US Senate letterhead! My younger brother and myself composed this personal heartfelt congratulations to… Read more »
In April of 1970, The Tournament of Champions Golf Tournament was held in Carlsbad, California. In the final eighteen holes, in the putting practice lawn, I was also able to obtain the unique signatures of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and the eventual winner, Frank Beard, on the very same golf scorecard. Also, in that event I witnessed Gary Player, Billy Casper, and Tony Jacklin, among others, tee off! Nicklaus and Palmer were teamed as a twosome during the final round. I was no more than five feet away when I witnessed Palmer easily save himself from a driving… Read more »
Thanks for the input Steve. And GO GAUCHOS!
From the Daily Nexus to the Golden Star Greetings to readers, fellow Gauchos, and seekers of the “poetic alchemist’s perspective.” For years, many of you have encountered my voice in the digital pages of The Daily Nexus, where I have often shared verse meant to transmute our shared social and environmental realities into something more profound. This forthcoming book is the culmination of that process—a distillation of (27) poems that bridge the gap between the radical spirit of the seventies and the complexities of our modern world. Why “A Golden Star”? In alchemy, the goal is transformation. In poetry, the… Read more »