Youth-Led Group in Coachella Valley Speaks Out Against Recent Immigration Detentions

A youth-based organization in the Coachella Valley is raising concerns over recent immigration enforcement activity in the region.

United Youth We Stand held a protest Saturday afternoon in Cathedral City and is planning another demonstration Sunday at 3 p.m. in front of Raising Cane’s in Palm Springs.

Organizers say the events are meant to bring attention to recent immigration detentions and amplify youth voices during a time of fear and uncertainty for many families.

The organization is largely led by former Coachella Valley students who say increased immigration enforcement has left community members afraid to leave their homes. In response, the group is expanding efforts to educate young people about their rights through social media, community outreach, and public demonstrations.

Chants, signs, and youth participation were on display during Saturday’s protest, as members called for awareness and accountability surrounding immigration detentions in the Valley.

United Youth We Stand was founded in 2016, during President Donald Trump’s first term, by local resident Samantha Rodriguez. Rodriguez says her interest in advocacy began after a family member was detained by ICE in Kansas while she was still in high school. That experience inspired her to create a space where young people could learn about their rights and engage in civic dialogue.

With what members describe as increased ICE activity in the region, the organization says it is stepping up efforts to share resources and timely information with the community. Beyond protests, the group has provided direct support, including grocery deliveries for families who are afraid to leave their homes.

The organization has also launched an Instagram broadcast channel with more than 300 members, allowing participants to share reports of ICE sightings or videos of detentions to spread information quickly.

United Youth We Stand says its goal remains centered on empowering young people, supporting affected families, and ensuring that youth voices are heard now more than ever.