Day of the Dead - Honoring Lives Lost to Immigration Detention, Nov. 1, 2025

On Saturday, November 1st, IRCC and Detention Watch Network hosted a vigil and march to honor the 25 immigrants who have died in ICE custody this year for the Communities Not Cages National Day of Action. We met in Todos Santos Plaza in downtown Concord, CA to listen to speakers Raul Arana, Jr. of United Latino Voices, Karen Hernandez of Concord Communities Alliance, and Vice Mayor of Concord, Laura Nakamura. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of district 10 was in attendance and participated in the march.

After a canción sung by Luisa Garcia Cielto Lindo, Karen and Raul read the names of those we lost and we had a moment of silence. We walked around the plaza, holding placards with the name, age and place of origin of each person who died under ICE detention. We headed out Galindo Street for a honk & wave, which was received with enthusiasm by the vast majority of motorists. The placards and announcement for the event were placed along the fence at the Plaza to let people read the names, ages and places of origin of the people we lost this year. The vigil was covered by Fox KTVU 2 here.

Karen Hernandez speaks at the vigil in Todos Santos Plaza

Raul Arana, Jr. speaks

Luisa Garcia Cielto Lindo sings

Gwynne Gilson, IRCC, speaks

Congressman DeSaulnier with student demonstrators

March around Todos Santos Plaza

Walking to Galindo Street

Honk and wave