San Antonio immigrants live in constant fear as ICE arrests surge
Undocumented residents of San Antonio have altered daily routines and rely on volunteers after ICE intensified raids, averaging 71 arrests per day and sparking calls to end local law-enforcement cooperation.
In San Antonio, where Latino heritage predominates, undocumented residents have reshaped everyday life to avoid ICE after President Trump’s 2024 election triggered a mass-deportation drive. Individuals like Jossman, a 39-year-old former circus performer, now limit outings, work construction, and attend a local church while awaiting an asylum hearing; he was detained in April and released in June. ICE’s traffic-stop detentions and workplace raids have averaged 71 arrests per day from December 2025 to March, ranking the city fourth nationwide, and the July 7 fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo intensified fear.
Volunteers such as Lisa Diana deliver groceries without entering homes, and health professionals warn of stress-related ailments. Democratic lawmakers Joaquin Castro, Greg Casar and state Rep. Trey Martinez Fisher asked the Bexar County sheriff to sever ICE collaborations, citing school drop-outs, reduced worship attendance, and business losses. The community’s anxiety now shapes decisions, relationships and access to care.
Why it matters
The story shows how aggressive immigration enforcement disrupts daily life, health and local economies in a major U.S. city.
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