Freedom. Education. Upward social mobility. This is the dream of many across the globe whose sights are set on starting a new life, whether for themselves or future generations. This is the American Dream: a vision of plentiful opportunities and the pursuit of happiness. It is etched into the minds of both those who have started building a life for themselves in the United States and those who have yet to set foot on American soil.

However, reality seldom mimics dreams. To many immigrants chasing a better future in the U.S., the experience isn’t quite like the movies; rather, it proves to be a story of struggles, tests, and, for some, outright terror. This is the true immigrant experience. 

Recent Political Changes

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed by the United States Congress, resulting in changes in various areas, particularly targeting one key issue: immigration. Aiming to secure the country’s borders, the bill hired 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and provided an annual $10,000 bonus over the next four years for Border Patrol and ICE agents.

But this wasn’t the only change causing mass shock throughout the country, specifically for immigrants; “As of January seventh [2026], Trump had signed 38 executive orders related to immigration, accounting for nearly 17 percent of the 225 total orders signed so far during his first year, which is more than the 220 executive orders signed during his entire first term,” (Migration Policy Institute).

Even if this is not discrimination on the surface, many immigrant families can not help but feel targeted by the recent shift in society, producing many mixed feelings. However, one thing is clear: highlighting these silenced voices is vital, especially when it appears that their freedom is slipping away — otherwise, they may never be told. 

Associated Fears and Sentiments

ICE raids — a notable topic in both local and national news — have affected many residents of Ventura County, people of all backgrounds and ages speaking out about it. The organization Youth Right to Rise, led by Mariposa Advocacy and based in Oxnard, Calif., empowers teenagers to advocate for what they care about. Many members of Youth Right to Rise shared personal experiences that they had regarding recent immigration-related issues. 

“You know people from your community who are getting detained. So it’s not [only] something that happens in the news or that you hear [about], but it’s actually something you see and [makes] you realize, ‘Oh, this is actually happening,’” Mareli Ceron, a member of Youth Right to Rise, said. 

“With the many ICE raids that have been happening … in Oxnard or Ventura County, a lot of people are scared … including some family members and some neighbors that I know. There is a fear of [going] outside, whether [it’s] because ICE is outside and they get caught, or maybe they go to work and never come back home,” an anonymous source said.

Vanessa Frank is a leading figure in Youth Right to Rise and also co-founded Mariposa Agency and Swap Meet Justice, a community event at Oxnard College that regularly provides free legal immigration services to Ventura County residents. Frank explained that due to the time during which her family came to the U.S., “they were able to come to the border, sign up for papers, [get] green cards at the border and then ultimately became citizens, but that’s not available to people anymore.”

For many, the fear that tomorrow is not a guarantee for themselves and their families weighs heavily on them, while for others looking in from the edges of the crowd, the hardships faced by immigrant families become grounds for sympathy. Foothill Tech student Ayush Avinash ‘27, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from India, shared his perspective.

“[Regarding] immigrant families who are struggling, people should kind of understand that … for them, life is not easy at all, and … there are some people who are kind of horrible to them just because they’re immigrants,” Avinash said. 

Whether they are directly subject to the recent political changes or the ripples stemming from the impact, new laws affect all Ventura County residents.

Impacts on Families and Individuals

Even with proper documentation, many of these families carry heavy emotions throughout their days. Ammar Atiah ‘26, a student at Foothill Tech whose parents immigrated from Syria, expressed the discomfort felt as someone who’s originally from a different country.

“I feel like I suffer sometimes. I feel like I get stereotyped a lot by certain groups, [and] I think the same thing with my family. It was very, very hard for us to adapt to the American lifestyle,” Atiah said.

Another anonymous individual explained how they felt after an incident at their parents’ workplace, sharing, “One time, there was an ICE raid over in the strawberry fields. And both of [my parents] were there. I was scared. I didn’t know what was happening at that moment until they came home safely … but some of [their co-workers] were taken.”

Frank further added, stating, “I’ve got employers coming with their best employee, and they’re afraid that they’re going to lose their best employee, their manager [or] the person they rely on; they’re afraid they’re going to lose their son-in-law or their daughter-in-law, or their parents or their siblings, so people are very, very afraid.”

As these families begin to increase their precautions, attempts to bring the situation to public attention have resulted in protests worldwide. Even locally in Ventura County, there have been numerous protests outside the Ventura County Government Center, most notably the “No Kings” protest on Oct. 18, 2025, with individuals desperate to speak out against the wrongs their community faces daily.

Hopes for Future Generations

Though emotions may run high in stressful times for immigrant families, many still look to the future with positivity. Frank touched on the impact of immigration on all people, not just those most clearly affected by both the recent and historical changes. 

“I think if we talked about immigration as a project of sustaining our rule of law democracy, that would help a lot, instead of thinking about it as an issue that affects some small group of people over there — it’s not; it affects all of us,” Frank said. 

Nonetheless, some also mentioned how not every immigration story is the same. Avinash cited his own experience, demonstrating that not every immigrant is necessarily struggling. 

“There are some immigrant families like my family, and I don’t think we’re struggling at all. We just bought a house two weeks ago. Like, I think we’re doing pretty well for ourselves,” Avinash said. 

That being said, he still acknowledges that “everyone, not even just immigrants, has hard upbringings, and people … should be respectful towards them at all costs.”

As laws and political tensions fluctuate along with social movements and the changing times, the future of the immigrant experience lies in the hands of not only the government, but also its citizens, whether that be in a foreign country or in our very own Ventura County. The fight for equality is what drives the public’s strength to continue protesting loudly and keeping hope alive through the quiet determination of their hearts.