By Jabari Bovell
For many teens, immigration debates don’t feel distant or abstract; they feel personal. When ICE shows up in conversations, it’s often connected to stories about families facing sudden uncertainty. Seeing classmates or neighbors carry that fear into everyday life can be frustrating and heartbreaking. From a teen point of view, it can feel like the impact stretches far beyond policy and into real homes, schools, everyday life, and friendships.
A big source of anger and concern is how enforcement can ripple through entire communities without any rules or respect for the law and humane life. We teens see and often feel when people around us are feeling scared and uneasy; to speak up, our or seek help, can also cause tension , and often change our safe neighborhoods into mine fields. Us young people often question whether the system is truly meant to protect us and the country. Shouldn’t we all work harder to protect the well-being of ALL families.
At the same time, we teens understand that laws exist and are needed, but compassion should matter too. Laws should be forced with passion, empathy and the desire for fairness. For this generation, criticizing ICE isn’t just about politics; it’s about asking how enforcement can respect both rules and humanity. Teens today want a future where safety and compassion aren’t opposites, but goals that grow together. Just like Micheal Jackson said “But if Martin Luther was living, he wouldn’t let this be!