El Paso Residents Hide from Intensified ICE Raids and Arrests

In El Paso, Texas, a border city with an 80% Hispanic population, residents are increasingly isolating themselves at home to avoid intensified raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since January, federal agents have targeted undocumented construction workers and restaurant staff, leading to widespread fear that has emptied streets and reduced attendance at public gatherings, including religious services. To support the community, organizations like the Border Network for Human Rights are holding meetings to educate residents on their legal rights. The situation is exacerbated by the recent opening of a 5,000-person detention center in a nearby military zone. This crackdown occurs in a politically significant context; despite Texas being a Republican stronghold, El Paso voted heavily for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The community remains traumatized by the 2019 Walmart shooting, where a gunman motivated by anti-Latino rhetoric killed 23 people. Current enforcement actions are viewed through the lens of this historical violence and ongoing political tension regarding immigration policies under the current administration.