Concerns about U.S. immigration enforcement continue to ripple through local communities, which is shaping how students and families think about safety, stability, and belonging. For many people, the issue extends beyond politics and policy debates in Washington, touching daily routines, social media conversations and family relationships. Fear of raids, detentions and even sudden changes in status can create stress even for those who are documented and are legal, as news spreads quickly through tight-knit communities.
At the Muslim Community Association and during PCBL, Mahad Abdi, head of security at MCA, and Aidan Rodriguez, a senior at Kathleen MacDonald High School (KMHS), shared their thoughts about immigration enforcement and how it affects their communities. During interviews conducted this month, both students said actions connected to US immigration and Customs Enforcement create fear and stress for immigrant families and their friends.
Abdi, who is originally from Somalia, said immigration activity in Minnesota makes him nervous because his father lives there and he visits often. Minnesota has a large Somali population, and Abdi said news about enforcement spreads quickly around the community.
“I’d see things online, and my dad would talk about it sometimes,” Abdi said. “Some of the Somali community there has been worried about immigration enforcement and raids.”
Abdi said fear remains even for families who are documented.
“Even if someone is doing everything right, there’s still anxiety,” Abdi said. “People worry about mistakes happening or families being separated.”
Rodriguez said immigration enforcement also affects students at Kathleen MacDonald High School (KMHS) especially those from immigration backgrounds. Rodriguez said he tries to stay informed about current events, often seeing news on social media platforms such as Tiktok.
“I especially try to look into things that affect immigrant communities because a lot of my friends come from those backgrounds,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said that even though he does not have immediate family members directly impacted, the issue matters to him because it affects people close to him.
Two completely different people, with completely different backgrounds, have said that immigration enforcement is not just a political issue but something that directly affects their daily lives and the well-being of their communities.
