Los Angeles, home to hundreds of thousands of Mexicans chasing the American dream, has witnessed an extraordinary act of solidarity in the aftermath of deadly fires.
In Pasadena, dozens of undocumented day laborers voluntarily formed brigades to remove fallen trees and debris in areas devastated by strong winds and fires. Armed with electric saws, rakes, and tools, these workers stepped up despite the looming fears of deportation under the rhetoric of the incoming Donald Trump administration.
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“This is an act of solidarity and the way we are used to responding when the community faces a tragedy,” said Pablo Alvarado, co-director of the National Day Laborers Network, which supports immigrant workers primarily engaged in construction, gardening, and cleaning.
Many of these migrants, including some who were forced to evacuate their homes, felt a deep responsibility to assist their community. Without being asked, they tackled tasks traditionally handled by firefighters and city employees, who are stretched thin battling the flames.
“This is something we do from the bottom of our heart, and we do not expect anything in return,” Alvarado added.
The workers, hailing from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Cuba, have undergone safety training from OSHA to carry out these duties. For Nicaraguan volunteer Roberto Morales, the experience is a source of pride. “It’s the pride of being an immigrant,” he said.
The Service Brigade aims to extend its efforts to other affected areas and even plans to raise funds to help low-income individuals lacking the means to clear debris once the fires subside.
“We know that a lot of help and immigrant labor will be needed. In the tragedies of this country, day laborers have always responded, and this time will be no different,” Alvarado stated.
The sense of unity transcends borders, as evidenced by Mexico’s contribution last Saturday. The Mexican government deployed a 74-person team from the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), the National Coordination of Civil Protection (CNPC), and the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) to California to support firefighting efforts.
Los Angeles is once again reminded that resilience often emerges from unexpected places, with immigrant workers proving that their contributions go far beyond what meets the eye.
