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How Three Young Adults In L.A. Are Protecting Their Undocumented Parents During Trump’s Presidency

Hobbies and aspirations are put on hold as families reconfigure their lives to avoid deportation and familial separation, deeply aware of how ICE targets working class immigrants.

11:21 AM PDT on May 13, 2026

a young woman shops in a grocery store

When she’s not preparing food in the back kitchen, the Aspiring Scholar restocks different products throughout the store. Photo by Odessa Hairapetian for L.A. TACO.

Note: Aliases have been used in place of the names of the following sources due to safety concerns.


The Aspiring Scholar and her older brother split the cost of an Apple AirTag and secretly stuffed it into the bottom of their mother’s purse to track her location.

The recently-certified Scientist appoints herself the responsibility of picking up her brother from school, since their father’s car—an old, “beat up” sedan with chipped paint that makes rattling noises—would draw attention.