They embraced one last time before saying goodbye. Surrounded by family and loved ones, tears streamed down their faces. After 38 years of living in the United States, Sadot Mesinas, decided it was time for him to leave the place he has called home.
“I thought I should be okay, but then we got to the border and started saying bye. I felt a lump in my throat that started building up,” reflected Mr. Bryan Mesinas, beloved HP math teacher and son of Sadot.
The Sunday before President Trump’s Inauguration, Mr. Mesinas experienced that same fear he once felt as a child–the fear of never seeing his father again. Sadot Mesinas and his family, after a long conversation, made the decision to leave due the consequences associated with his past deportations.
According to the United States Department of Justice, if Sadot were to be deported again, he would be punished with up to two years imprisonment. With the current administration’s policies, there’s no telling if that would be here or in Guantanamo Bay.
“It gave me that feeling again where my dad is somewhere else that I can’t see him grow older. My dad is somewhere else where in case he gets hurt I can’t see him, I can’t just go out and hug him, I can’t drive to his house….We can go see him, take a flight, but I just know that the next time I see him he’s going to look a lot older.”
The recent surge of ICE raids across the country posed an ignited wave of fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities. As President Donald Trump was admitted into office, he signed an executive order that allowed for mass deportations in the country. This executive order directly affects undocumented immigrants as many families fear to be separated from their children.
Most Hispanic/Latino families come with a background where their parents left their home country and came to the U.S. in pursuit of a better life for themselves and their children. Ultimately, sacrificing everything they have and leaving the life they once had behind.
This story is common among many Hispanic/Latino families, who prepare their children to take advantage of the opportunities they are given in hopes of having a better future. This is a ubiquitous thread between many who sought to chase the idealized American Dream.
Similar to many across our community who are experiencing the dire effects of the recent immigration policies, Mr. Bryann Mesinas, beloved HP math teacher, wanted to share his experiences.
Reflecting on the impact of ICE raids and the uncertainty and fear on students, Mr. Mesinas recalled the moments where his father was first deported when he was younger.
“I remember when my dad was deported. We were all crying in the house. We didn’t know what to do. I was 11 years old, and then I remember he got deported and then we went to go visit him in Tijuana,” says Mr. Mesinas
Children should not have to worry about being separated from their families, but rather have the opportunity to focus in school. Many children feel anxiety without knowing whether or not they will remain with their family. Enhancing the fear of not knowing whether the morning they were dropped off at school would be the last time they saw their parents.
“One time … when we were coming across the border. We would drive all the way down to Tijuana for the weekend and on Sunday afternoon, start driving back. We were in the line, we were all talking, and started praying. Two cars before we hit the front line, my dad would get out of the car, we would say bye to him, hug him, and he would just walk back to TJ. We would sometimes ask if he could come with us, but he couldn’t,” reflected Mr. Mesinas.
Due to his dad’s deportation, having to go back and forth from the U.S. to Tijuana was the only way he would be able to reconnect with his father. Waiting in the car as they got closer to the border was necessary for them to spend as much time together before having to part ways. His dad would walk back to Tijuana while the rest of his family made the journey back to the U.S. where his family was once connected together.
“I remember one time, we got to the front, the border agent just said come on through, did not check any paper. I remember driving away and all of us started crying, because we all thought my dad could have stayed in the car and come home with us,” Mr. Mesinas adds.
For many, these raids are not a distant story, but rather a harsh reality that disrupts many families and their lives. These raids fracture families, leaving lasting emotional damage. The heavy toll of these operations extends far beyond, children are left without their parents and communities are left struggling with the aftermath of family separations.
Some immigrant families work hard to make a living, often having two jobs to support their families, working twice as hard to make a living. If families are working hard towards trying to make a living how is it that they pose a threat?
The argument has always been, “They are only trying to deport criminals”, if that’s the case, why is it that they’re starting to target sensitive locations such as schools, churches, and hospitals.
“I see them having the same situations like I had, but on a much higher level… The way it’s impacting them is there’s a kind of anger, frustration, fear that I see with some kids that I don’t know if it impacts their learning,” says Mr. Mesinas.
The ICE raids pose a wave of anxiety for students. According to United Teacher of Los Angeles, there are over 98,000 undocumented students who graduate across the country every year. Within LAUSD, it can be estimated that 25% of immigrant students are undocumented.
Mr. Mesinas has given students the rundown of what to do if they come across border patrol. He says, “That was never a conversation I ever thought I was going to need to have with any kids ever.”
Mesinas personally relates to many students, where the fear many students feel now is the same he experienced as a child.
“My parents were undocumented when I was a kid. My dad got deported in ‘99 and I remember the fear after that when he jumped the border again of constantly being on the lookout for border patrol.”
Making sure students are properly informed can also lower the anxiety levels of students in school environments. Some teachers and students on campus have passed out cards explaining what to do if ICE.
“If there is some kind of checkpoint somewhere, take a picture, record, share it and then other kids might step up and share as well.”
However, there is a certain obstacle teachers encounter.
Mesinas adds, “As teachers, if we see it, that’s when it gets kind of weird. We’re not supposed to be political, but that’s something that’s happening in our local communities. Something that impacts the learning of our kids.”
“The best thing we can do is be honest, get pictures, get videos, and share with each other. A lot of students inform their parents. So I think if we arm our students with some information and rights that they have, they can then relay that information to their parents and then that could probably save a family.”
In school communities it’s harder for students to feel understood if the subject isn’t touched upon. School shouldn’t become an area where students feel fear and are told how to protect themselves.
“There’s a lot of teachers that don’t even touch the subject. We’ll keep it professional, we’re here to teach. and we should be, right? We should be here to teach, but this is a different situation. This is a very different situation. This is a genuine fear I see with kids.” – Mr. Mesinas
Many families came to the U.S. in pursuit of a better future and accomplishing the impractical idea of the American Dream, however, now that accomplishment has become their biggest nightmare.
The lasting impact of ICE raids on families leaves a profound emptiness for families, going through emotional, psychological, and social consequences that ripple through the lives of those who are affected.
“I think the hardest part is just the separation of family. You guys have these families. you guys have these people. You either abandon your life and you go with them or it feels like you abandoned your family, and you stay in your life, and your life is just a little bit more empty here.”
Written by Leslie Negrete, Opinions Editor