Protecting Community One Neighbor at a Time

In Arizona and across the country, the Trump administration’s mass deportation practices have created fertile ground for unjust targeting, discriminatory treatment and civil rights violations impacting immigrants, mixed-status families, long-time legal residents, and even U.S. citizens.

Yet amid chaos, fear, and uncertainty, something remarkable has taken root. Community members who are living with the weight of these practices are also stepping up as advocates to keep their communities safe. Their courage and solidarity remind us why knowing our rights is essential, and why standing up for each other is a powerful antidote to the lawless actions of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) which threaten our most fundamental liberties.

These agencies’ practices threaten the fabric of our neighborhoods and families and challenge the democratic principles this country is built upon. But when everyday Arizonans know and exercise their rights, they can hold federal agents accountable and advocate to ensure people’s constitutional rights are not swept aside.

Christine is a South Tucson resident who has seen first-hand how knowing your rights is not just memorizing legal jargon; it is a transformative tool for community safety and resilience.

Christine is regarded by many as a pillar of her tight-knit community. Like many families in southern Arizona, Christine has deep ties to the border region — her family is from Sasabe, Sonora. Growing up her grandfather made it a point of instilling a respect for, and connection to, both sides of the border. She explains that to him, the border was not a fixed divide, but a dynamic shared space that shaped their identity and sense of belonging.

Christine set roots in South Tucson, a city where nearly 75-percent of the population identifies as Hispanic. She explains that her neighborhood is one where residents know one another, look out for each other, and where trust is built through everyday interactions.

But that sense of trust and stability was disrupted in May of last year when Christine was in her front yard and was approached by two men who claimed to be employees of Tucson Electric Power (TEP). The men said they were looking for one of her neighbors, a man from Central America who had lived in the United States for more than a decade.

Christine had recently seen legitimate TEP workers in the area, but she got the sense something was not right.

The two men were not wearing official TEP uniforms, didn’t present proper identification, nor were they driving a TEP marked car — all suspicious details, according to the utility company. Their specific interest in her neighbor raised red flags for Christine. Before the men began making their way toward the neighbor’s property, Christine noticed what appeared to be a badge of sorts tucked beneath one of the men’s shirts.

Christine asked the men directly whether they were with ICE. She adds they simply did not respond. Realizing the potential risk her neighbor faced, she moved quickly to warn him.

The two men were ultimately able to enter the yard of her neighbor’s home after a family member opened his gate and allowed them in. Watching the situation unfold, Christine was simultaneously filming the interaction and declaring what rights he had in the situation.

In video shared by Christine, her voice can be heard calling out to her neighbor, urging him to protect his rights:

Christine’s intervention and advocacy underscores the urgency of the moment and how her understanding of her neighbors’ rights was vital in the situation.