UPDATE: This Saturday, August 15, 2025, a critical discussion titled “Where Does Deportation Come From?” will take place in Logan Heights, San Diego, featuring filmmaker Alex Rivera and historian Kelly Lytle Hernandez. This event comes amid heightened immigration enforcement, with aggressive ICE raids sweeping across the country, making the topic of deportation more urgent than ever.
The conversation aims to illuminate the historical roots of deportation and its profound impact on current immigration policies, as communities face increasing threats of detention and removal. “Many of our community members are being targeted,” Professor Hernandez stated, emphasizing the need for historical context to understand today’s immigration struggles.
The event seeks to challenge the normalization of deportation and the narratives surrounding it. “This is a dangerous moment where the border is seen as natural and deportations as normal,” Rivera noted, highlighting the alarming shift in political discourse. As the U.S. grapples with its immigration policies, the discussion will explore how historical injustices continue to shape present-day realities.
Key themes will include the origins of the first deportation laws in the U.S., particularly targeting non-White migrants, such as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Hernandez explained that these laws laid the groundwork for a racially biased immigration system, a legacy that persists today.
Rivera, who is currently working on a film inspired by the early history of deportation, aims to shed light on the human stories behind these policies. He stated, “We need to think against borders and deportation from a moral place.” His film, alongside the upcoming event, seeks to inspire activism and awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by immigrant communities.
As deportations become increasingly aggressive, this discussion encourages attendees to reflect on the historical context and seek alternatives to the current system. “History shows us that we can resist,” Hernandez concluded, urging community members to engage in the fight for a more just immigration system.
Join this vital conversation on Saturday, August 15, at Bread and Salt in Logan Heights. This is an opportunity to learn, share, and inspire change in a critical moment for immigrant rights.
