# LUPE membership surges despite Trump immigration crackdown

> A Texas community group sees participation nearly double as young people join the fight for immigrant rights.
- Title: LUPE membership surges despite Trump immigration crackdown
- Summary: A Texas community group sees participation nearly double as young people join the fight for immigrant rights. Fear of immigration enforcement is driving more…
- Keywords: lupe, la unión del pueblo entero, immigration enforcement, ice, donald trump, rio grande valley, texas, kimberly trujillo, tania chavez camacho, community organizing, know your rights, valle fuerte valle libre
- Source: The Texas Tribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17464710/trump-immigration-policies-lupe-increase-membership
- Author: Berenice Garcia
- Published: 2026-09-17T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: lupe, la unión del pueblo entero, immigration enforcement, ice, donald trump, rio grande valley, texas, kimberly trujillo, tania chavez camacho, community organizing, know your rights, valle fuerte valle libre
## Young member steps up fast
Kimberly Trujillo joined LUPE just two months ago. The 24-year-old from Brownsville is already leading at the group's major convention.
## Immigration drives new members
Trujillo was inspired by LUPE's work helping people know their rights during harsh immigration enforcement. Members voted it their top priority.

> Seeing a campaign so dedicated to letting people know what their rights are, especially now amongst really harsh immigration enforcement, was important to me.
## Participation nearly doubles
LUPE's biennial convention grew from 99 people in 2024 to 197 in 2026. Most growth came from members under 45.
## Know Your Rights campaign launched
LUPE started Valle Fuerte, Valle Libre in December, distributing kits with information about rights when encountering ICE officers.
## Young people lead the shift
Members under 45 now make up 35% of convention participants, the largest share. Executive director Tania Chavez Camacho says it's been surprising.

> We've actually seen a change. We've seen a lot of young people … and that has been surprising for us.
## Growth forces venue change
The surge in participation forced LUPE to move its convention from its San Juan headquarters to a larger center in Pharr.
## Founder's dark past revealed
The New York Times reported in March that Cesar Chavez, LUPE's co-founder, sexually assaulted several girls and women, including co-founder Dolores Huerta.
## Organization responds to allegations
LUPE covered up a mural of Chavez and skipped Cesar Chavez Day activities. Leaders say their mission to keep the community safe remains central.
## Members focus on current work
Young LUPE members remain committed to issues impacting them now. They're leading advocacy and community organizing despite the painful revelations.
## Giving people practical action
As ICE enforcement increased last fall, LUPE launched Valle Fuerte to channel members' anger into something practical.

> We wanted to give people something practical to do because there was so much anger.
## Eight priorities beyond immigration
Members ranked economy second, then health, civic participation, infrastructure, LGBTQ issues, youth education, and unity and solidarity.
## Immigration team sets goals
Trujillo's delegation wants transparency with officials, to elect supportive leaders, and spread awareness of constitutional rights.

> Our drive for this is that we think no one is free until we are all free, and so that really drove a lot of the components of our resolution.
## Fear won't stop organizing
Members ask if ICE could show up at events. LUPE can't guarantee they won't, but people decide fighting is all they have left.

> Ultimately, people have to make that personal decision of, 'Well, I'm already living in so much fear, what else do I have left than to fight?
## Key takeaway

Fear of immigration enforcement is driving more young people to organize and advocate for their communities rather than retreat.