Entry #1

10/18/26

It’s day 14 of the immigration enforcement surge in California. It’s been impossible to keep up. I’ve learned not to beat myself up over it, but there’s no way to dissolve the guilt I feel in my chest. I try my best to be on the ground as a reporter, since the tracking I do is thanks to the community watchers, but it does it make it even more difficult to keep up. There have been well over a thousand people kidnapped in street “enforcement," and that doesn’t even include what happens behind closed doors at ICE check-ins, court hearings, immigration appointments, and more. more.

These masked and violent agents pull into neighborhoods and target people of color; they target the working class, and they grab whoever fits their profile of an “illegal.” To think how far humanity has come, and the far-right still continues the rhetoric of referring to civilians as “illegal aliens.”

Yesterday, the No Kings protest, which is dedicated to demonstrating against President Donald Trump, was smaller than the last one. I don’t know whether it's burnout, apathy, or people getting tired of protests and shifting to direct action.

Regardless, the march around the park was small, and the crowd outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center was even smaller; even then, the Los Angeles Police Department continued its violent trend of accosting protesters and the press.

While I was down there, we could see the militarized agents making propaganda videos for the Department of Homeland Security. No words capture how surreal this is, only serving as a reminder that this isn't fantasy; it is real life.

When I left, I had to come back after the police arrested a 19-year-old photojournalist. Another attack on the press. Sometimes, even under the pressure of a neo-fascist administration, I’m surprised by the leap that those beneath this administration will take. Naturally, even during this surge, I’m seeing a lot of courage, bravery, hope, and fight from the individuals resisting the attacks on our immigrant neighbors. They keep hope alive, despite the burnout and pain. They arrested five legal observers who patrol for these masked goons, but after their release, they continue their work. They don’t stop. They can’t stop.

Neither should we.

From 100-mile pilgrimages to community watch teams to mutual aid efforts, so many people are making an effort. I hope we can bear witness to the day these sacrifices will no longer be needed.

I’ll talk to you soon.