Youth-led group rallies in Cathedral City against ICE activity while educating young people on their rights

Youth voices took center stage in Cathedral City as a local, youth-led organization rallied against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and immigration detentions in the Coachella Valley, while continuing a broader mission focused on education, advocacy, and community support.

United Youth We Stand was founded by local students years ago, including Samantha Rodriguez, who says the organization was born out of personal experience. Rodriguez was still in high school when her family learned that her uncle had been arrested by ICE in Kansas, forcing them to navigate a complicated and frightening legal process.

Rodriguez says that moment revealed a gap in representation, especially for young people impacted by immigration enforcement. With limited leadership experience at the time, she felt compelled to create a space where youth could feel empowered and involved in advocacy efforts within their own community.

Since then, United Youth We Stand has grown into a youth-based organization focused on education, advocacy, and direct support for families. Over the weekend, members and supporters gathered in Cathedral City to protest ICE activity and immigration detentions, but organizers stress that demonstrations are just one part of their work.

Members say the organization has also stepped in to help families facing immediate needs. During periods of heightened immigration enforcement, they launched a GoFundMe to provide grocery assistance to families afraid to leave their homes. Community donations helped supply food and essential resources.

The group has also turned to technology and social media to share information and protect anonymity. Through broadcast channels and direct messages, community members can report ICE activity, share photos, or ask for help without publicly identifying themselves. Organizers say this tool recently helped alert a family when a loved one was detained, ensuring relatives were informed quickly.

At the heart of the organization, members say, is youth empowerment. They point to a growing wave of youth-led movements across California that continue to inspire young advocates to speak out and stay engaged.

United Youth We Stand is planning a second protest later today in Palm Springs, where members say they will continue calling for immigration reform while sharing resources with families in need.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.