We Stand with Immigrants

At Rocky Mountain Equality, our mission is rooted deeply in justice, inclusion, and the unwavering belief that every person deserves to live without fear. Today, we find ourselves confronting a federal government that has escalated violence against immigrant communities and anyone who stands with them. And this is not happening through policy discussions, but by deploying troops to American cities, ordering raids aimed at spreading fear, and using military force against any who disagree.

Here in Colorado, we are not immune. Our communities have been targeted by ICE agents in the early mornings, outside grocery stores, at courthouses, and wherever and whenever they are just trying to live their lives. Families have been torn apart, and our neighbors have been detained and deported, often without due process, legal support, or the chance to say goodbye. These actions have created lasting fear, especially among undocumented immigrants, mixed-status families, and those who already face discrimination because of race, language, or gender identity. 

In Los Angeles, federal agents backed by over 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines have been activated, even though California Governor Gavin Newsom never requested them. A federal judge has ruled this deployment illegal, affirming a fundamental democratic principle: local communities must consent to such actions. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed the deployment to stand.

The president describes this operation as essential to “restore order” and protect “legal immigrants,” while labelling protesters “insurrectionists.” This is not public safety. It is a spectacle intended to stoke fear and create more division in our country. It is intimidation.

This is not normal, and this is not the rule of law. It is authoritarian overreach. It is xenophobic state violence and a coordinated assault on the rights and dignity of immigrant communities and all Americans.

The consequences are already devastating: raids on immigrant homes and workplaces have sparked nation‑wide protests, most peaceful but others erupting under the pressure of military presence in American streets. In Los Angeles alone, more than 400 arrests have been made, curfews imposed, tear gas deployed, and journalists injured. Even U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was manhandled and handcuffed by federal agents when he questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference in Los Angeles. 

Let’s be clear: This targeted attack on immigrants is part of a broader agenda of fear, control, and exclusion. And we must stand united to reject it.

Immigration justice and LGBTQ+ equality share a common foundation: bodily autonomy, safety, dignity, and belonging. Many of those we serve are Black, brown, or immigrants. Colorado has stood firm as a safe place for immigrant families, offering protection where the federal government fails to live up to its promise of “liberty and justice for all.” But no state law can fully shield people while military personnel are being deployed in our own streets. That’s why it is more urgent than ever to raise our voices to protect our communities locally and to denounce violence nationwide.

To everyone in the queer, racial justice, faith, labor, and civic communities: This is a shared fight. Stand with immigrants. Organize. Donate to and get involved with organizations like the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition. Call officials. Attend peaceful rallies. Remind your neighbors: immigrants are not the enemy; they are our people, they are us.

To the immigrant families living in fear: No words we offer can come close to easing the fear, heartbreak, and uncertainty you’re facing right now. But please know that you are not alone. We see you. We love you. We stand with you. You belong here, as you are, with full dignity and respect. We will never stop fighting alongside you for your safety, your rights, and your humanity.

The violence facing immigrant communities is not separate from the struggles LGBTQ+ people know all too well, and many immigrants are LGBTQ+ themselves. It comes from the same systems of fear, control, and dehumanization. Our communities are deeply connected, and many of us live at the intersections. 

We know that real justice isn’t piecemeal. Because until all of us are free, none of us are.