Lazoz de Cache Valley (formerly Raíces) was created in September of 2025 as a grassroots advocacy effort in response to the government’s mass deportation project. Our initial intention was to foster safe spaces and informational gatherings for the Hispanic residents of Cache Valley, but as targeted violence across the country escalated, we quickly pivoted to address the urgent needs of families in the midst of forced separation.
While we focus on crisis prevention through recurring Emergency Preparedness workshops and Know Your Rights trainings, we are easily outpaced by undertrained and overpaid federal agents who are incentivized to issue removal orders indiscriminately. The reality of this massive project caught up with us: information and knowledge cannot contend with unconstitutional violence, so we assembled a team of trusted attorneys, we made connections with other grassroots and non-profit organizations across the state, and we were issued our 501(c)(3) status in June of 2026.
Today, Lazoz offers legal resources, educational content, mutual aid, and community-based support for Hispanic immigrants in Northern Utah, regardless of legal status or criminal record.
This was never about criminality. The number of convicted criminals with removal orders is highly disproportionate to the number of deportations we are seeing, and our regional data supports this. Although these arrests have not always escalated into violence, the numbers tell violent stories.
Just in 2026, Lazoz has witnessed the extent to which this abuse of authority is ongoing in Cache Valley: Bernardo noticed that the police car had been following him for 10 minutes, waiting to pull him over; Rafael had a warrant for his arrest over an alleged driving infraction, but the person in the police footage was not him; Maria noticed the unmarked vehicle sitting outside her house for days, studying her habits until they could detain her. None of these neighbors had any criminal charges, and yet their families have been harassed and forced to make impossible decisions.
This kind of harassment is racial profiling. While we have not observed an increase in crime or in deportation of convicted criminals in our data, we have observed federal agents waiting outside the court on days where a Spanish interpreter is present. As neighbors arrive at court to settle traffic tickets and other petty citations, unmarked ICE vehicles intimidate and intercept our community members.
Despite ongoing conversations between the community, the Logan Police Department, and the Cache County Sheriff’s office, we continue to see egregious violations of people’s constitutional right to due process.
In general, the number of convicted criminals detained by ICE has stayed consistent since 2022.
Note on the deportation process: a convicted criminal is someone who was charged with a criminal conviction and is in the process of serving time in jail. ICE issues a “detainer” to county jails to slow the release process of certain individuals; this is to allow ICE enough time to arrive at jail to detain the individual.
The number of detainers issued for people with criminal charges has increased from 3 in 2022 to 53 in 2025.
Note on criminal charges: to be charged with a criminal infraction amounts to a formal accusation, which gives ICE permission to file for removal. However, a “criminal charge” might constitute petty crimes such as driving with a broken taillight.
So far in 2026, ICE Ogden made 111 community arrests, meaning these arrests happened outside of jail. The majority (56%) of those arrested had no criminal conviction, and 73% of those with no criminal conviction had no criminal charges at all.
Note on criminality: “racial profiling” violates the 14th Amendment because it eliminates people’s right to due process.
Along with the exponential increase of unlawful forced removals and the reduced oversight of federal agencies, we have also witnessed an increase in unethical behavior from law practitioners. Greedy lawyers are scamming our neighbors into paying thousands of dollars for services that usually cost around $300. These bad-faith actors use misinformation to not only take advantage of our neighbors financially, but also to instill fear, hopelessness, and apathy in an otherwise vibrant community.
As a united group, we are committed to giving a voice to those who are often unheard. We firmly believe that, at our core, we all share a common humanity, and this sense of unity is the foundation for our mission. As a volunteer-run group, we actively address social issues and stand up to social inequality because we believe that the public deserves transparency and those on the top need to be held accountable. We are determined to ensure that every member of our community is treated equally, regardless of their origin or journey to this valley. This means we work closely with community members to provide education on immigration laws and their local government regulations. Additionally, we focus on supporting and empowering immigrant families to be active community members, fostering a sense of belonging that leads to a stronger investment in our community. A diverse community is a resilient community, and our unwavering mission is to build that strength together.
Our mission is to educate and empower the people of Cache valley in sociopolitical issues about immigration and racial discrimination; to advocate for greater accountability of local, regional, and state government officials; and most importantly, to provide resources and information about their constitutional and human rights.
We envision a version of Cache Valley where the immigrant community is not afraid to participate in community events, where youth from all backgrounds feel empowered to build inclusive spaces, and to secure good faith representation in all levels of governance
Lazoz hosts recurring Community Cenas, or dinners, where we offer resources and information to understand the immigration system. In particular, we offer Emergency Preparedness Workshops, which help neighbors understand their constitutional rights as residents, bystanders, and community members. These Cenas are an opportunity for community-building, and they are organized on an as-needed basis in safe, private spaces.
Our outreach efforts involve canvassing around predominantly Hispanic spaces to share information, resources, and invitations to the Cenas. In this way, we allow our neighbors to get to know us before they need our services.
In order to understand the mass deportation project from different angles, we research Utah’s immigration history and local policy, and analyze available quantitative data about detentions and criminality in the present moment. We also debunk myths and rumors about the shifting immigration landscape by maintaining active dialogue with trusted attorneys and legislators at different levels of state governance.
Future efforts for the organization will include the creation of easily accessible and digestible content to share our research findings.
The primary service we offer is a free 10-minute consultation with an immigration attorney. After hearing an overview of the case, they will then offer legal advice, provide a referral to the appropriate law practitioner, and/or start working on the case right away.
Law practitioners affiliated with Lazoz are committed to offering an affordable consultation rate (between $100-$200, depending on the attorney and the complexity of each case).
Lazoz has entered a network of trusted attorneys and public defenders throughout Utah, with practitioners covering immigration, family, property, and criminal law. Law practitioners within the Lazoz network are committed to acting in good faith, staying informed about new developments in immigration policy, and prioritizing the civic and human rights of immigrants in Cache Valley.
Because the removal process is swift, our neighbors depend on quick action. The Rapid Response Network is a hotline where community members can report ICE sightings or detentions. Our team of verifiers then scouts the location and either confirms or denies the report. If verified, Lazoz informs the community. If a neighbor is detained, Lazoz works to get in touch with the detainee’s family and/or friends.
Most of our funds (85%) are directed toward assistance with legal fees of various kinds, from small expenses such as funding phone calls from people inside detention centers to more substantial amounts such as filing fees for appealing unlawful removal orders.
Lazoz uses an Emergency Preparedness Packet created by our partner organization, Ogden United with Immigrants, to encourage our immigrant neighbors, regardless of legal status, to have a solid plan in case of detention or deportation. The packet includes worksheets for collecting important information such as ID numbers, bank accounts, and homeownership documents. It encourages parents to make plans for their children's care, and to list friends or relatives who are willing to take legal responsibility of their assets. Most importantly, it encourages families to secure legal representation before any emergencies happen.
Through these Emergency Preparedness efforts, Lazoz has helped two neighbors who were racially profiled and in the process of forced removal to be released from ICE custody and return home to Cache Valley.
For neighbors who can’t drive or are afraid to obtain their privilege license, we offer transportation support on an as-needed basis.