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Between fear and hope, a group of immigrant women —mostly Mexican, Central American, and Caribbean— has launched a peaceful campaign called "Ponte your Moños", a proposal that transforms traditional braids and colorful bows into a symbol of unity and resistance against ICE raids in California.
The initiative emerged after it was reported that more than 10,000 undocumented immigrants were arrested in Los Angeles since June, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The participants explain that their hairstyles are not only a demonstration of cultural identity but also an act of resistance against the fear caused by immigration operations, cited Telemundo.
“Locked in a braid with one another so we don't forget who we are, so that fear doesn't take away our hope. ICE cannot deport our culture,” says Lucía Ramírez, a 28-year-old Mexican, daughter of immigrants and one of the founders of the movement.
The campaign Ponte your Moños combines art, spirituality, and activism. During the processions on this December 12th, Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, dozens of women wore buns in the colors of the Mexican, Guatemalan, and Salvadoran flags, intertwined with ribbons that read: “No human being is illegal” and “Little Virgin, protect us”.
“This year has been horrible for the community, but we feel that the Virgin is watching over us,” comments an elderly woman, who after spending 30 years illegally in the country obtained her residency.
“The raids have left families torn apart, and yet we continue to pray and braid our hair just as our grandmothers did, with faith and pride,” she emphasized.
The Virgin as a symbol of protection
The celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe became a spiritual refuge for many immigrant families affected by the wave of detentions driven by the Trump Administration.
In several parishes in Southern California, the faithful asked the 'Morenita del Tepeyac' to protect those facing deportation processes or waiting for a migration appointment.
During the main procession, organized in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Los Angeles, dozens of women with hair buns and flowers walked holding candles and banners with phrases like "Little Virgin, guide our children" and "No one is illegal in your eyes."
The initiative has spread across social media under the hashtag #PonteYourMoños, where hundreds of women share photos with braids and messages of support for families separated by deportations.
In some neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, community workshops teach girls and adolescents how to braid and reflect on the value of cultural identity and solidarity.
The movement also seeks to highlight the institutional violence faced by migrant women during ICE operations.
"The braids are a silent scream," summarizes one of the organizers. "They remind us that resistance can also be beautiful."
The campaign arises after a series of federal operations that resulted in over 10,000 immigrants being arrested in Los Angeles, many of them with criminal records, while others were detained for minor immigration offenses, according to civil organizations' reports.
The tension between local authorities and the federal government continues to rise, while the immigrant community turns to faith, culture, and solidarity to resist.
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