BY ROBIN MIMNA
More than 200 protesters gathered at the busy intersection of U.S. Highway 17-92 and International Speedway Boulevard in DeLand Feb. 1 to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s new immigration policies.
Organized by Daniela Copca Cortez, a DeLand resident and advocate for immigrant rights, the demonstration highlighted growing concerns over the impact of these policies on immigrant families in Central Florida.
Protesters waved signs and chanted slogans such as “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” (“United we will never be defeated!”) and “Si se puede!” (“Yes, we can do it!”). Many young attendees spoke out on behalf of their parents and others who, due to their immigration status, feared attending the protest themselves.
Copca Cortez, who was born in Mexico but has lived in the United States since she was 2 years old, was careful to advise undocumented individuals against attending, citing concerns over safety.
“When I started advertising the protest on local community sites, people were tagging immigration,” she explained.
One of the attendees, Perla Sanchez, a DeLand native whose parents emigrated from Mexico, expressed her distress over the policies.
“It hurts my heart to know that people can be so coldhearted. They have families just like we do,” Sanchez said. “They may not be from here, but they are not criminals.”
As cars passed by, many drivers honked in support, giving thumbs-up or cheering from their windows. Not everyone was on their side. Some hecklers yelled, “Go back to your country!” and “Y’all don’t belong here!”, a stark reminder of the deep divisions surrounding immigration policy.
FIGHTING — Organizer Copca Cortez holds a sign that translates in English to “My parents fight for me, now I will fight for them.”
The impact of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies
The protesters’ concerns stem from recent rollbacks of protections in sensitive locations such as schools, churches and hospitals and reinstatement of mass deportations and expedited removals.
According to Copca Cortez, these measures will impact not just immigrants but the entire state.
When asked about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent partnership with federal agencies to expand immigration enforcement, Copca Cortez urged state leaders to consider the contributions of immigrants.
“Immigration enforcement should not come at the expense of family unity, public safety or economic stability,” she said. “Policies that create fear and hardship for immigrant families weaken the very fabric of our state.”
“If inflation is already bad, this will make it worse,” she added. “The majority of immigrants work in agriculture, construction and landscaping. Without them, food will go to waste, prices will rise, and businesses will suffer.”
The changes have heightened fear within immigrant communities, making it riskier for individuals to seek essential services.
“Parents may avoid taking their children to school, patients may delay medical care until it’s an emergency, and victims of crime may choose not to report abuse out of fear of being detained,” Cortez said. “This not only endangers individual families but also weakens our broader communities.”
A message to leaders
Gov. DeSantis recently announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Florida Highway Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), granting state law enforcement enhanced authority to enforce federal immigration laws.
At a press conference in Destin, DeSantis defended the move, saying, “If you are serious about ending illegal immigration, why do you want to stop the things we’re doing that have been effective?”
However, immigrant advocates argue that these measures will have devastating consequences.
“We don’t ask for handouts — we ask for work,” said Copca Cortez. “We want to proudly feel like we deserve what we have. We respect and are very thankful to this country, but we also deserve to be treated with dignity.”
A group of mostly younger individuals poses for a photo with their protest signs.
Looking ahead
As the rally concluded, protesters vowed to continue their advocacy.
“Our goal is to speak up for everyone who can’t,” said Copca Cortez. “This protest is about gathering strength and sending a message that we are strong together. We will get through this.”
With immigration enforcement tightening across Florida, local communities remain on edge. But for those who attended the DeLand protest, their message was clear: Immigrants are an integral part of Florida’s workforce, economy and communities, and they will not be silenced.
