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Yessenia Echevarria has dedicated the past 11 years to uplifting Latina women in San Luis Obispo County as the founder and executive director of her nonprofit, Mujeres de Acción.
When President Donald Trump announced his new immigration enforcement policies after taking office in January, Echevarria was filled with fear — not just for herself, but for her community.
On Jan. 21, Trump authorized the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to enter schools and churches — places previously designated as “safe zones” for undocumented immigrants under the Biden administration.
“When this new administration won the election, it definitely shifted the energy here in SLO County, and that energy has been one of anxiety, fear, stress, uncertainty, as well as a sense of breathing,” Echevarria said.
As of March 2, there have been no confirmed ICE raids in the county since the policy change. However, an unconfirmed, suspected raid occurred at a Paso Robles apartment complex on Jan. 29. Witnesses claimed ICE agents were involved, but police stated on Feb. 19 that the arrest was carried out by a different federal agency, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Mustang News contacted ICE multiple times regarding this arrest and did not receive a response.
There are nearly 27,000 documented and undocumented immigrants living in San Luis Obispo County, making up almost 10% of the population, according to a San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce report. An estimated 9,000 undocumented residents live and work in the county, according to SLO County UndocuSupport.
As the daughter of two immigrants, this issue is deeply personal for Echevarria.
“When my parents came to this great country, we received a lot of help in those hard moments,” Echevarria said, holding back tears. “And in those moments, it’s about humanity. It’s about having someone who’s going to care.”
Over the past month at Mujeres de Acción, Echevarria has focused on addressing her community’s need for communication and information. Since Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, she said their group has gained 1,900 new members and has tailored its messaging to assist undocumented and mixed-status families.
“It’s scary for us because we don’t know how aggressive this administration will be,” Echevarria said. “All we can do is be prepared as first responders, and that’s the role that we have taken in the community.”
Now that ICE can enter schools and churches, emotions are running high within these communities.
The San Luis Coastal Unified School District has observed increased anxiety among students and their families, impacting student attendance, according to Shannan McFadden-Sullivan, an English learner teacher in the district.
“Some of our students are feeling unsafe and worry that raids may separate them from their loved ones, which makes it difficult for them to focus on learning,” McFadden-Sullivan said.
On Feb. 3, during “day without immigrants,” the school district saw a noticeable drop in attendance, McFadden-Sullivan said. The protest encouraged immigrants nationwide to keep their kids home from school, skip work and avoid shopping, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Some local businesses also recognized the protest. Corazón Cafe SLO closed its doors in observance of the day.
“We decided to close out of solidarity because our immigrants are valuable in a million different ways,” said Sara McGrath, co-owner of the cafe. “Speaking as a restaurant owner and just as a human being who eats food every day, the entire food chain depends on immigrant labor.”
McGrath expressed her frustration with the current situation.
“To think that my brown-skinned husband or anybody else I know who looks Latino should walk around and be sure they have additional documentation just to prove who they are is outrageous and gut-wrenching,” McGrath said. “Unfair is putting it mildly.”
To provide support, the cafe distributes “red cards” with information on what to do if approached by an ICE officer.
“As a business, we continue to make efforts towards putting it out there in any way that we are a welcoming place, and that we are an inclusive and safe space during all this chaos,” McGrath said.
Ricardo Gonzalez, pastor at a local church, Casa de Oración, offers his support by praying that the promises of God will keep those affected safe.
“Our goal is to help people that don’t have too much orientation or information, and we need to help them as much as we can,” Gonzalez said.
Beyond San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria saw over 100 students protest federal immigration deportation policies on Feb. 18, advocating for a two-mile protection zone around churches and schools, according to the Santa Maria Times.
Before the Trump administration authorized ICE to enter schools and churches, CalMatters asked all 58 of California’s sheriffs if they would cooperate with ICE. Under California law, local law enforcement is not required to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“Unless the law changes in California or federally, I will continue to follow the current law,” San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson wrote in an email to CalMatters.
While Parkinson’s statement was made before the new immigration policies took effect, Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Tony Cipolla said this statement still stands.
As for how these federal immigration policies could affect Cal Poly, the university does not engage with federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant present.
“At the end of the day, we can put this all in as politics, but these are people’s lives,” Echevarria said. “These are people’s livelihoods.”
For Echevarria, one positive has emerged from this situation: a stronger sense of community.
“In the midst of this situation, we have been able to create partnerships and relationships that had never been created,” Echevarria said. “In this county, we are so blessed to have meaningful people that have come together in the worst of times. That’s the beauty of our community.”
For those who do not understand what immigrants will be experiencing under the Trump administration, Echevarria said she hopes they will recognize the human impact.
“We’re dealing with people who have made this place their home. This is their community and they have built relationships,” Echevarria said. “Humanity is seeing people for people at the end of the day.”
