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13 Times Latinos Refused To Stay Silent During Trump's First 100 Days

And it's just the beginning.
Carolina Moreno
By 

Reporter, HuffPost

President Donald Trump ’s first 100 days have been an emotional and political rollercoaster for many, and Latinos did not sit idly by.

Just days after taking office, Trump signed an executive order to begin construction on a U.S.-Mexico border wall and threatened to defund cities that refused to collaborate with federal immigration authorities. The administration’s immigration crackdown led to the deportation of at least one DACA recipient and one mother with no criminal record, among others. And at least one domestic violence victim was reportedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement while seeking court protection.

Through it all, Latinos have refused to stay silent ― from America Ferrera’s rousing speech at the Women’s March to the undocumented Latina who took a viral tax form selfie and then asked Trump for his.

Here are 13 times Latinos spoke up in solidarity with immigrants and their community:

America Ferrera Did Not Mince Her Words At The Women's March
Theo Wargo via Getty Images
The day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, women across the country and world marched for women's rights and other human rights. America Ferrera spoke in front of marchers in Washington, D.C., and gave a rousing speech.

“It’s been a heart-wrenching time to be a woman and an immigrant in this country ― a platform of hate and division assumed power yesterday. But the president is not America. ... We are America,” she said.
Latinas Fought For Their Rights At The Women’s March
thejunglefish/Instagram
Latinas marched alongside thousands of other women across the country on Jan. 21. They joined demonstrations to advocate for women's rights as well as immigrant rights, with some writing "nopal-itics around my ovaries" on their arms and hoisting signs that read "No human being is illegal."
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Vowed To Protect Dreamers
Bill Clark via Getty Images
Hours after Trump's inauguration, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Ca.) and other Hispanic lawmakers met with reporters to say they would fight "at every turn" to protect thousands of young undocumented immigrants from deportation under the new administration.

“We are here today on the day of inauguration to send a very clear message to our president: The CHC is going to stand up and fight for the rights of the Hispanic community,” Sanchez said. “The president of the United States has made it abundantly clear, including in his speech today, that he is openly hostile to immigrants, particularly immigrants of Mexican ancestry.”
Immigrants Clapped Back At Trump By Declaring #ImAlreadyHome
Following Trump's immigration executive order, HuffPost Latino Voices asked readers to show how immigrants already make America great with the hashtag #ImAlreadyHome. Dozens, including many Latinos, shared photos and touching immigrant stories on Twitter. The hashtag eventually became a trending topic in the United States.
NY City Council Speaker Defied Trump’s Immigration Order
After Trump signed an executive order calling for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and threatening to defund so-called sanctuary cities that limit their collaboration with federal immigration authorities, Melissa Mark-Viverito pushed back. The New York City Council speaker spoke at a press conference shortly after the president's directive, and vowed she and the city would continue to protect immigrants.

“It’s very hard to contain myself after hearing and seeing what I just witnessed, as many of you have,” she said at the beginning of her speech. “So, obviously, if there was ever any doubt in anyone’s mind whether Trump’s bigoted, hateful, divisive rhetoric truly reflected his intentions, we’ve seen that on display right now.”
A Latina Teen Countered Anti-Immigrant Sentiment With Her Own Weekly List
HOUDA CHOGRANI
When Valeria Alvarado found out Trump had asked that a weekly list of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants be published, she knew it would "unfairly define a community of over 11 million people by the actions of a few."

That's when the 19-year-old Villanova University student decided to create "We, Too, Are America" and share positive and inspiring immigrant stories on Facebook to counter Trump's list.
Teen Who Lost Her Mother To Deportation Delivers Heartbreaking Speech To Defend Her
Just weeks after Trump took office, Guadalupe García de Rayos made headlines after she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine check-in. The mother of two U.S. citizens was deported within 24 hours. García de Rayos' 14-year-old daughter Jacqueline gave an emotional speech in her mother's defense after she was deported.

"Seeing my mom in that van, it was unexplainable," she said. "It was really heart-dropping. My mom is a really kind person, she would never hurt anyone ... And no one, no one should ever go through the pain of having their mom taken away from them, or the pain of packing her suitcase."
Immigrants Tested If The U.S. Could Handle A Day Without Them
Roque Planas/The Huffington Post
Restaurants, activists and immigrants across the country gave the United States a taste of what life without immigrants would be like during a national strike in February. Many stayed home from work or school to show solidarity, and gathered in support of immigrants everywhere. High-profile restaurants and restaurateurs, like Spanish-born chef José Andrés, also closed their doors in solidarity.

“We really didn’t expect all these absences,” one Austin teacher, who said only four of her 26 students showed up, told HuffPost. “We were prepared for some, but we never imagined that it would be this big.”
Teen Who Videotaped Her Father Being Detained By ICE Spoke Up
Fatima Avelica sobbed as she witnessed her father being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and she captured the moment in a harrowing video that went viral. The video brought media attention to Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, a father who was taken into custody while dropping his daughters off at school. Despite their heartbreak, Fatima and her sister Jocelyn Avelica became vocal advocates for their father and explained to the country what it's like losing a parent to deportation.

“I can’t be a regular 19-year-old. I can’t,” Jocelyn told Fusion, wiping tears away. “I have to grow up, and I have to take responsibility. And I wanted to go back to school, but now I can’t. I have to see if I can find another job, take responsibility. Show [my sisters] how you have to work hard. And even though we’re going through something like this, always stand strong.”
Sandra Cisneros Called Trump's Immigration Directives 'Barbaric'
Alex Wong via Getty Images
The Chicana author spoke to Univision about the Trump administration's immigration policies and the uptick in ICE raids across the country. Cisneros said the president was "a man who behaves like a 15-year-old" and denounced the separation of families.

“I think one of the most horrible things we’ve seen is the possibility of losing your family, a member of your family,” she told Univision in reference to deportations.

“I think the destruction of families is something barbaric we haven’t seen since the time of concentration camps,” she added. “I think it’s a savage thing.”
Undocumented Latina Asked Trump For His Receipts After Showing Her Tax Form
Belén Sisa decided to counter the myth that undocumented immigrants don't contribute to the country's economy or pay taxes by posting a selfie with her tax form. The Arizona State University junior's Facebook photo and message went viral.

“I, an undocumented immigrant, just filed my taxes and PAID $300 to the state of Arizona,” the 23-year-old wrote in the caption. “I cannot receive financial aid from the state or federal government for school, I cannot benefit from unemployment, a reduced healthcare plan, or a retirement fund. I think I’m a pretty good citizen.”
Gael García Bernal Denounced Trump's Border Wall At The Oscars
Eddy Chen via Getty Images
Gael García Bernal took the Oscar stage to present the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, but before revealing the winner, the Mexican actor took a moment to publicly denounce Trump's proposed border wall.

“Flesh and blood actors are migrant workers; we travel all over the world, we build families, we construct stories, we build life that cannot be divided,” García Bernal said. “As a Mexican, as a Latin American, as a migrant worker, as a human being, I’m against any form of wall that wants to separate us."
Activist Astrid Silva Delivered A Powerful Response To Trump Speech
After Trump's speech to Congress in February, Dreamer Astrid Silva delivered the Democratic response to the address in Spanish. The undocumented activist, who is protected from deportation under former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, gave a powerful 8-minute response via a video posted by the Senate Democrats on Facebook.

“I’m here representing Democrats, Latinos and 11 million undocumented immigrants who are an integral part of this country and who embody the values and the promise of America, the same ones that President Trump is threatening with his mass deportation plan,” said Silva. “Instead of separating families, President Trump should pass comprehensive immigration reform that honors our country’s tradition of welcoming immigrants.”

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