By Ricardo Lezama 
The re-birth of the Chicano movement, with an increased focus on immigration issues, was evident through a series of social media posts reflecting on the current news flow this week. Most salient are the constant marches in the Los Angeles area against ICE’s campaign of deportations.
In fact, a renewed sense of urgency is sweeping through the Chicano community across both borders, driven by increasingly contentious debates over immigration policy and the historical struggle for civil rights. Across social media platforms, a wave of posts and conversations is underscoring a modern “re-birth” of the Chicano movement—one that intertwines grassroots activism, cultural resurgence, and a distinct language code passed down across generations. With protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) becoming commonplace in Los Angeles, and school walkouts signaling youth engagement, it is clear that a new chapter in Chicano organizing is unfolding.
Unearthing History: The Herman Baca Collection
Unlike many communities in the United States, the Chicano community is extremely historical when it comes to their approach and collective memory. Educational institutions and historians are galvanizing public awareness about Chicano civil rights by making archival materials more accessible. Recently, the UC San Diego Library’s recent efforts to digitize the Herman Baca Collection is helping preserve, study, and elevate the legacy of key activists from previous decades. Baca’s work was central to the fight for Chicano rights in San Diego; now, scholars and community organizers can easily explore flyers, photographs, and writings chronicling decades of protest and political organizing.
This digital archive serves not only as a tribute to past efforts but also as a resource for those shaping the present movement. Social media posts referencing Baca’s papers frequently tie past actions to current strategies against deportations, demonstrating a bridge between historical documentation and contemporary activism.
San Jose
The tech industry was not untouched by the dialogue as well, with a call to join a protest arranged by the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee against deportations and the presence of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in San Jose.
While there is a groundswell of support, the importance of political representation is not without priority. For instance, San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz has proven an advocate. This week he motioned to pass an ordinance supporting immigrants in the city.
It could be the case that the movement is finding new allies in the tech sector. There were protests against ICE presence near tech campuses in San Jose. These have drawn workers from major firms to voice their disapproval of contracts that supply technology to immigration enforcement agencies. Many employees are leveraging their positions to challenge the “business as usual” approach, reminding the broader public that detention centers and mass deportations affect the families of tech workers, customers, and the community at large.
Indigenous Identity
Online posts testified to the activism still alive within the Chicano community, signaling a new era in Chicano organizing.
The re-indigenization trend was also noted, suggesting an understanding that the cultural ‘apocalypse’ feared by some is, in fact, an inevitable revival and assertion of identity by the Chicano community. Thus, the flurry of posts presented a snapshot of a revived Chicano identity – one that is seeking recognition, justice, and respect within the broader context of American society.