Building Community: One Year of ICE in Los Angeles

June 5, 2026

One year after ICE raids began in Los Angeles, the impact remains deeply felt in everyday life. Journalists and community members continue to chronicle the stories of neighborhoods navigating the lasting consequences on the stability of living in this city. 

On June 6, 2025, the ICE raids in Los Angeles began the same day as NHMC’s Impact Awards Gala. While the evening and event was a night of honoring the Latino community, we could not ignore the horror that was unfolding across Los Angeles. As families faced disruption and uncertainty in real time, NHMC turned the moment into one of not only honoring our community’s impact, but also to acknowledge the blatant terror being directed at us. In her opening remarks for the evening, President & CEO Brenda Victoria Castillo recognized the gravity of the situation and reaffirmed NHMC’s commitment to standing with our community now more than ever. 

Six months after the first ICE raid started, NHMC released its Building Community episode Bearing Witness: Six Months of ICE in LA. This update was a space for reflection. We brought together local journalists to examine the impact these events have had on Los Angeles, and share insights from the ground along with engaging in overall honest conversations on the challenges facing our people in this city. The point of this episode was to stay informed and connect with Latinas giving voice to those who felt they couldn’t. 

Now, another six months later and one year officially after the start of it all, we are releasing our newest Building Community panel, One Year of ICE in Los Angeles.  Moderated by Zan Poka, the conversation features the original journalists from our six-month episode, Amanda Del Cid Lugo, Ryanne Mena, Michelle Zacarias, and Brenda Fernanda Verano. This episode offers an honest look at the past  year, the stories that shape our communities, and the difficult conversations that help us move forward together. We encourage everyone to follow and support these journalists, whose reporting amplifies the voices of those most affected and helps keep our communities connected and engaged. 

Check out the new episode of Building Community now! 

National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is a woman-led 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan, civil and human rights organization that was founded to eliminate hate, discrimination, and racism toward Latino and marginalized communities.

We educate and increase Latino visibility from our policy work in Washington, D.C., to our media advocacy work in Hollywood, where we connect, collaborate, and create with talent within the entertainment industry.

We lead the work to eliminate online hate and disinformation across media platforms. We advocate for the Affordable Connectivity Program, Lifeline Program, Net Neutrality protections, and closing the digital divide for Latino and other marginalized communities. NHMC works in partnership with other social justice organizations to safeguard democracy in the United States of America.

NHMC is a not-for-profit, and provides equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to race, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law
© 2026 National Hispanic Media Coalition // communications@nhmc.org // o. (626) 792-6462
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