The Power of Coming Together and Mobilizing in a Time of Political Attrition
Written by Michelle Corona, MSW-I
The Power of Coming Together and Mobilizing in a Time of Political Attrition
I attended Salt Lake County’s Immigration People’s Agenda campaign meeting at Comunidades Unidas (CU) early in Trump’s second term. We were mobilizing in anticipation of aggressive immigration policing in Utah, as we began to witness it happening across the country. For instance, we saw this in Illinois through "Operation Midway Blitz," initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to arrest ‘criminal illegal aliens.’ The operation led to nearly 4,400 arrests; however, according to the Deportation Data Project, only 674 had any criminal conviction, and approximately 85% of those detained had no criminal record. Now, 2026 data demonstrates the impact of ICE enforcement in Utah, with the highest rate in West Valley City. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, there are more ICE arrests compared to any other city, more than 1,100 over the past 20 months.
Recalling my time at the Comunidades Unidas campaign meeting, we created community workgroups to ensure the community was equipped to counter the anti-immigration policies. One workgroup focused on training community members on the Know Your Rights curriculum. I saw members of the community concerned for their safety, yet seeking refuge in others and ways to become involved. It was an amazing feeling to know I was not alone in this fight. When we know our rights, we gain empowerment, lessen fear, increase preparedness in the face of ICE presence, and prevent civil rights violations (McConnell, 2025).
Tom Homan, appointed by Trump and a key player in shaping immigration policy and advocating for the 287(g) Agreements, also recognized the power of education, immigrants are “hard to arrest when they’re educated about their rights” (McConnell, 2025). Additionally, Tipler and Gates (2022) state that rights education provides undocumented immigrants with procedural legal control, dignity, empowerment, and a sense of community.
This demonstrates the power of our communities when we mobilize against unjust policies and discrimination. We are not powerless when we stand together and mobilize. When I was at CU, my fear became a sense of safety and community; I felt empowered by the fact that there are steps we can take to address attrition. A word mentioned by CU leaders during the campaign meeting.
Attrition is a fear tactic used to pressure immigrants and undocumented people to self-deport, a tool of oppression. It is a psychological strategy that threatens the safety of the targeted group, impacting their resources, such as time, money, and mental energy, in order to force submission, “attrition through enforcement” (Kobach, 2007, p. 156). This scare tactic uses legal, financial, and psychological pressure to make it stressful for the targeted groups. What is known is that politics is a source of chronic stress, mental health issues (anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, etc), and physical health issues due to politics (Smith, 2022), but it also reinforces misconceptions and false narratives about immigrants, undermining immigrants' contributions in Utah and the U.S. (Vera Institute of Justice, 2026).
I will end on this last note:
“Another factor in attrition works best when people are isolated. One of the most powerful antidotes is connection. Every time a community member learns their rights, attends a workshop, or supports a neighbor, they interrupt the very mechanism on which attrition depends.”
Arches’ Clinical Director, Sneha Pusapati
Resources
Arches Healing & Growth: Courageous Conversations Group
Resumes January 21st, 2027!
This support group creates a space for individuals impacted by the current political and social climate to process emotions, build connections, explore identity and values, and strengthen coping skills in community. Topics may include anxiety, grief, anger, burnout, fear for the future, identity-based stress, navigating relationships across differences, media overwhelm, and maintaining hope and agency during difficult times.
Individual therapy at a low cost (Hablamos español)
Salt Lake Community Bail Fund
A nonprofit organization that is volunteer-run that helps with post-bail and provides court services to accompany you in immigration/court hearings and appointments:
Comunidas Unidas Salt Lake County Immigration People’s Agenda Campaign
A community-based campaign to involve immigrants and the working-class community to influence the policies and systems that impact their everyday life.
Family Emergency Plans in various languages
Good Samaritan Foundation, Rose Park Neighborhood Center
FREE weekly immigration legal consultations(walk-ins welcomed)
ACLU Utah
On-demand know-your-rights materials
Alliance Community Services
Helps with applications, representation, legal forms, and community resources.
References
Dunbar-Ortiz, R. (2021). Not "a nation of immigrants": Settler colonialism, white supremacy, and a history of erasure and exclusion. Beacon Press.
Farnam Street. (n.d.). Attrition warfare: When even winners lose. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://fs.blog/attrition-warfare/
Kobach, K. W. (2008). Attrition through enforcement: A rational approach to illegal immigration. Tulsa Journal of Comparative & International Law, 15(2), 155–163.
McConnell, M. (2025, March 21). With liberty and justice for all: The importance of "know your rights" education. American Immigration Council. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/the-importance-of-know-your-rights-education/
Smith, K. B. (2022). Politics is making us sick: The negative impact of political engagement on public health during the Trump administration. PLOS ONE, 17(1), Article e0262022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262022
Tipler, K., & Gates, A. B. (2022). Rights education without rights? Rights workshops and undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 48(1), 291–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2019.1591271
Vera Institute of Justice. (2026, July). Profile of immigrants in Utah, United States [Fact sheet]. https://www.vera.org
Vidal Valero, M. (2025, September 1). U.S. immigration policy: Mental health impacts of increased detentions and deportations. Monitor on Psychology, 56(6), 32. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/09/mental-health-immigration-enforcement
