OMAHA — Dozens packed a popular plaza on South Omaha’s Latino-dominated commercial corridor Thursday afternoon, carrying immigrant-friendly signs and waving bumper stickers that read: Who would Jesus deport?

“Stand in Solidarity” rallygoers heard from allies at the top of 10 organizations such as the Nebraska AFL-CIO labor union, Nebraska Farmers Union and Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

All touted a message that immigrants and refugees were good for the state’s economy, workforce and growth. And as passing cars honked and gave thumbs up, the speakers proclaimed their words from a stage.

It was an intentionally blatant show of support, said Itzel Lopez of the Latino Economic Development Council, which helped Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) organize the event at la Plaza de la Raza on South 24th Street.

“We want to draw attention that, yes, it’s safe,” said Lopez. “That there are people in our community who truly care about the well being of immigrants in our state.”

Lopez, speaking to the crowd, admitted that she can’t help but worry herself about the fallout of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies. Though she has grown up in Omaha, has seen success in business, she is a DACA recipient without permanent legal status who finds herself “preoccupied with simply feeling safe.”

Reach Congressional Delegation

OTOC leader Denise Bowyer said the diverse speaking lineup representing business, labor, agriculture, faith and community groups was intended to push back against negative messages and restrictive policies initiated at the national level. She said the group wants their message to reach Nebraska’s congressional delegation and urged people to get louder and more active.

James Krenz, senior program director for the International Council for Refugees and Immigrants, said admissions for refugees are effectively suspended. He said the Trump administration views refugees as “a threat rather than a part of shared humanity.”

“What we see today is not normal,” he said, adding that quiet acceptance “allows injustices to persist.”

The rally was similar in spirit to one on the steps of the State Capitol in September, which drew more than 60 Nebraska organizations to announce a unified resolve to change state and federal policies to be more welcoming to immigrants and refugees.

Over the past four months, said Bowyer, people’s lives nationally and in Nebraska have been upended by executive orders, non-renewals of Temporary Protective Status and revocations of parole processes for people who entered the country with permission. OTOC is a religious-based network formed three decades ago to advocate for social justice issues.

Crack Down

Trump, who campaigned on the promise to crack down on immigration, has said he is enforcing national laws and that mass deportations and strict border security protect Americans and the country’s economic and social structures.

Anne Wurth, senior attorney at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, said challenges representing newcomers have compounded in the last few months. While Nebraska has not seen the large-scale enforcement raids of the past, or high-profile arrests as some other states, Wurth said foreign-born Nebraskans should know their rights and be “aware.”

From what her organization has seen across the state, Wurth said, immigration agents have focused on “stated enforcement priorities” — targeting people with prior removal orders and past criminal convictions.

She said her office has information that federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security ostensibly have been conducting “wellness checks” on young people who entered the U.S. as unaccompanied minors and were released to Nebraska sponsors.

No one to her knowledge has been detained, said Wurth. “But under this administration, those things can change.”

Heath Mello, president of the Greater Omaha Chamber, said his members hear daily from employers who are struggling to fill jobs. He said the business group believes immigration reform must be part of the state’s workforce solution.

“Smart, constructive immigration policy is not just the right thing to do — it’s good economics,” Mello said.

Sue Martin, president of the Nebraska AFL-CIO, said that without immigrants, America’s workforce would shrink, meaning decreased tax revenue.

John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said Nebraska’s largest single industry, agriculture, struggles with workforce issues. He named pork producers, dairy producers, poultry producers, beef feedlots, seedcorn companies and the meatpacking industry and said all are dependent on immigrant labor.

Other speakers included Mustafa Babak, cofounder of the Afghan American Foundation, the Rev. Debra McKnight, founding pastor of Urban Abbey and Dawn Essink of OTOC.

Lina Traslaviña Stover, executive director of the statewide Heartland Workers Center, said immigrant communities help Nebraska thrive.

“We are growing the food, building the homes, running big and small businesses, caring for families and keeping Nebraska moving forward.”

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/22/show-of-support-for-immigrants-a...