Undocumented workers, facing deportation under Trump, aid in LA fire recovery
Undocumented day laborers brave wildfires in Los Angeles, helping with debris and fallen trees, despite fear of deportation.
2025-01-18T17:00:26+00:00
- Undocumented Day Laborers Show Community Solidarity in Los Angeles
- Strong Winds and Fire Affect Pasadena and Altadena
- Fear of Deportation Doesn’t Stop the Aid
Dozens of undocumented journalists have set an example of solidarity by volunteering to remove debris and fallen trees in the areas devastated by the deadly fires in Los Angeles.
Equipped with chainsaws, rakes, and other tools, these migrant workers are not only seeking to help their neighbors.
But they also face the constant fear generated by the rhetoric of the incoming government of Donald Trump, who has promised mass deportations.
“We feel proud to help,” expressed some members of these brigades, organized by the Pasadena Workers Center.
Undocumented Day Laborers Help in Los Angeles
🔴 Migrants join to clear debris in Los Angeles
Undocumented day laborers volunteered in brigades to clear debris in the areas affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles, in an act of «solidarity» with the community they… pic.twitter.com/nBGJTvBXV3
— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) January 9, 2025
“This is an act of solidarity and the way we are used to responding when the community faces a tragedy,” said Pablo Alvarado, co-director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).
Although many of them have also lost their homes, they have not hesitated to help clear the entrances to homes and evacuation routes in affected cities, such as Pasadena and Altadena.
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The Eaton fire, which has consumed more than 4,300 hectares and claimed at least five lives, has been aggravated by the strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
These winds not only knocked down trees and left debris but also served as fuel for the flames, intensifying the tragedy.
The community has recognized the invaluable work of the undocumented day laborers, who, despite living under constant threats and fears for their immigration status, have shown a deep commitment to society.
“This is work we do from the heart, and we expect nothing in return.»
«Maybe the street or the driveway we are cleaning belongs to someone who has been influenced by Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. But we don’t care because a country is built with acts of love, not hate,” added the activist, who had to evacuate his home.
“It’s an act of solidarity that we cannot ignore,” say neighbors who have witnessed the efforts of these teams in Los Angeles during the fires, according to El Financiero.
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