Youth Group Combines Protest and Aid for Families Impacted by ICE

The streets of Cathedral City filled with youth voices over the weekend as a local organization took a stand against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and immigration detentions across the Coachella Valley.

The protest was organized by United Youth We Stand, a youth-led group founded by Samantha Rodriguez, who says her motivation came from personal experience. Rodriguez was still in high school when her family learned her uncle had been arrested by ICE in Kansas.

“When I first started this organization, it was when my uncle initially got arrested by ICE,” Rodriguez said. “We were dealing as a family with trying to figure out legal proceedings and decisions.”

At a time when fear surrounding immigration enforcement was widespread, Rodriguez noticed that young people were largely absent from the conversation. With limited leadership experience, she decided to create a space where youth could feel empowered and heard.

Since its founding, United Youth We Stand has grown into an organization centered on advocacy, education, and community support. While public demonstrations remain a visible part of their work, members say their efforts extend far beyond protests.

“A big thing that we saw in our valley was families staying without food resources,” Rodriguez said. “We created a GoFundMe to support families that need groceries.”

The organization has also developed an Instagram broadcast channel where community members can share information and alerts related to ICE activity. Members say the platform allows people to communicate anonymously and provide timely updates.

“We get personal messages from people who don’t want to be put out there,” Rodriguez explained. “They send pictures, timestamps, or messages about what was seen.”

That communication proved critical just two weeks ago, when members were able to help alert a local family that a loved one had been detained by ICE.

“We helped identify someone who was taken,” Rodriguez said. “Because everyone was posting, his family was aware of what happened.”

At the heart of United Youth We Stand, members say, is youth empowerment. Rodriguez believes her generation’s willingness to speak out has fueled youth-led movements across California.

“We’re really quick to put ourselves out there,” she said. “Seeing other youth-led movements has pushed me to continue what I’m doing.”