What started with about 50 people at the corner of Carpinteria and South Milpas streets in Santa Barbara quickly turned into a mass protest with hundreds of people packed at the corner, roundabout and street median.
The gathering started at 5 p.m. Friday in protest of recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, deportations, anti-Mexican hate and President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Odalys Mora was one of the first protesters to arrive and said they were protesting because of the impact deportations have on children and because they want to see a better future for immigrants.
“We’re supposed to be a great nation,” Mora said. “We’re supposed to be America, the land of the free, but there is no freedom.”
Mora was also worried about children not going to school because their families are worried about them being taken by ICE.
“You never know where ICE is gonna go or when they’re gonna show up, and that’s the fear that they have,” Mora said. “It’s just sad seeing all of this, going on Facebook and Tiktok and watching the news. It’s heartbreaking.”
Protesters handed out flyers to drivers passing by, letting them know their rights and what they should do if they are approached by ICE officers.
Passing drivers honked in support throughout the protest, with some vehicles circling the roundabout multiple times and waving Mexican flags out their windows. Protesters were encouraged to bring flags from their own country, and many waved half American and half Mexican flags.
One protester who identified themselves as Haley stood on the Milpas roundabout and said she was protesting in solidarity.
“You can’t push us out, and you certainly can’t suggest that anyone’s illegal on this land. It’s stolen to begin with,” Haley said. “I’m just out here trying to show up and say, there’s a lot of us and you can’t take us all down.”
Haley said she was disgusted to learn about recent ICE activity in the area but not surprised.
Another protester who identified themselves as Chris was standing on the roundabout waving a small Mexican flag.
Chris said he felt uneasy because of the recent ICE activity and wanted to see more outreach and resources go to the immigrant community.
“I’m a DACA recipient myself, so it makes me a little nervous to know that ICE is in my town, but we’re not going anywhere,” Chris said.
The protest continued well into the night. California Highway Patrol vehicles could be seen parked on a nearby Highway 101 offramp during the protest.
At 7:22 p.m., the Santa Barbara Police Department sent out an alert to residents that a First Amendment event at the Milpas Street roundabout was “causing significant traffic slowing” and advised drivers to use an alternative route.
Sabrina Oertle was shopping on Milpas Street on Friday night when she came across the protest and was inspired by the show of community support.
“It was the most incredible sight to see, to see my community, my Latinos and supporters of the community, band together and just make a statement — no harm, no fuss, no muss,” Oertle said. “It’s beautiful, and I couldn’t help but feel more American than right now.”
She said she didn’t understand why ICE was in Santa Barbara, so far away from the border.
“Let’s concentrate on bigger issues than a small coastal town with a bunch of people just trying to work and make a living and have a dream,” Oertle said.
Santa Barbara City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez was in the area throughout the protest, watching how things were going.
He told Noozhawk that he was glad to see the protest remain peaceful, though he did wish that the organizers gave the city more notice and held it at a safer location, such as State Street, which is closed to vehicle traffic.
“It’s a good way for people to come together and express their feelings and be a show of unity,” Gutierrez said.