Across the country, Americans are facing fear with courage and division with unity. In response to the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda, communities nationwide are standing together in remarkable ways. From workplaces and schools to houses of worship and courtrooms, people are choosing action, solidarity, and compassion. These stories reveal the deep wells of resilience, creativity, and moral courage that define who we are as a nation. Read below for twelve inspiring examples of resistance:
- EMPLOYERS STOOD THEIR GROUND: From a Kenner, LA store manager who locked Border Patrol agents out of his store and told them to “go somewhere else,” to workers and business owners across the country who refused to be complicit in the administration’s enforcement agenda – many employers chose the dignity and safety of their employees over intimidation tactics.
- PROTECTED THE PATH TO SCHOOL: As federal agents began targeting schools that were once protected spaces – parents, teachers, and neighbors organized efforts like “walking school buses” to escort children to class safely. In Charlotte, NC, for example, residents organized volunteer patrols with PTA members standing guard at school entrances, ensuring students could reach school without fear of ICE raids along the way.
- FED NEIGHBORS IN NEED: When fear kept immigrant families at home, away from food stories, communities responded with groceries. And while being threatened themselves, when wildfires struck, immigrants took action to clear roads and deliver food to their affected neighbors.
- YOUNG PEOPLE LED THE WAY: The next generation stepped up with remarkable courage and organizing power, including through school walk-outs to protest ICE raids around the country – from Hillsboro, OR to Raleigh, NC. In Boyle Heights, CA a student-led group delivered care packages to families too afraid to leave their homes.
- SUPPORTED LOCAL BUSINESSES: Communities patronized immigrant-owned businesses facing economic pressure from anti-immigrant enforcement actions, including in Chicago, IL where a cyclist group helped local vendors, and in Fort Bragg, CA where “Solidarity Crawls” encouraged people to shop at locally-owned businesses displaying “We Stand With Immigrant Families” stickers.
- POPE LEO XIV AND FAITH COMMUNITIES TOOK ACTION: Religious leaders and faith groups demonstrated solidarity for marginalized brethren, including New Orleans, LA pastors who launched a fundraiser to cover bills and groceries for immigrant families, the San Diego Diocese which assembled volunteers to accompany immigrants in court, a Chicago, IL priest who walked 800 miles to step up, and Pope Leo XIV who condemned U.S. immigration policy and called migrants and refugees “messengers of hope.” These faith leaders brought moral clarity to the national conversation, refusing to let the administration’s actions go unchallenged.
- VETERANS SPOKE OUT: Veterans across the country stood up for immigrant neighbors, including Chicago, IL veterans who stood against Trump immigration raids on Veterans Day. In Boston, MA, protesters honored veterans and rallied for immigrant rights at a Memorial Day demonstration, and a disabled veteran who was detained in an immigration raid in Camarillo, CA demanded an investigation. These veterans demonstrated that those who served our country understand the true meaning of defending all neighbors and protecting the values of inclusion and justice.
- JUDGES DELIVERED JUSTICE: Legal advocates and judges pushed back against unlawful enforcement tactics across the country. In Maryland, a federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody declaring his case “demands judicial intervention,” while in Colorado a federal judge ruled ICE’s conduct “unlawful” and blocked warrantless arrests, and in Washington, D.C. a federal judge ruled that ICE must allow members of Congress to make unannounced visits to immigration detention facilities. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the administration’s mandatory detention policy, calling it a move that “upends decades of practice” – proving that when we stand up for each other, we can win.
- MOBILIZED NATIONWIDE: Americans flooded the streets in massive numbers, with over 700 immigration-related demonstrations across all 50 states by March alone – more than a quarter of all protest activity across the country. Throughout the year, Americans marched with U.S. flags in their hands and hope in their hearts, reclaiming patriotism as a force for inclusion.
- RURAL COMMUNITIES DEFENDED IMMIGRANTS: Across small towns and rural America, communities rose up to protect their immigrant neighbors, including in Boone, NC where 135 residents gathered on short notice to protest ICE raids. In New York state, rural Americans stood up to “White House Border Czar” Tom Homan in his hometown of 1,500 people, and lawmakers representing small towns found out that Trump’s extreme agenda wasn’t playing well in their districts – facing furious constituents at town halls demanding better for their neighbors.
- WARNING NETWORKS FORMED: Across the country, neighbors organized warning networks to protect immigrant communities from militarized enforcement actions. In Chicago, IL, residents ran migra watch shifts, trailed ICE caravans, and blew whistles to alert neighbors – creating a formidable defense network that became a blueprint for cities nationwide.
- IMMIGRANTS CELEBRATED BELONGING: Despite challenges, immigrants continued to claim their rightful place in American life with joy and pride, including new citizens who celebrated their first July 4th as Americans, immigrant communities volunteering as first responders, and organizing cultural festivals that demonstrated their deep civic engagement. These moments of celebration and service reminded us why this fight matters – because America is strengthened by those who choose to call it home.
