The fear in our industry is real. Mergers. Layoffs. Budget cuts. AI literally threatens to replace us (shout-out Meta). And then 2025 arrived, kicking off with a wave of anti-DEI sentiment from the current administration—and, in lockstep, from many marketers.
And now, we’re witnessing the most aggressive attack on immigrants this generation has seen. Last month, when ICE raids hit Los Angeles like a bullet train, our agency spoke out—not about the financial hit to our communities or our clients, but about the emotional and human toll of such a blatant display of hostility toward immigrant families. Just as the DEI backlash was never truly about meritocracy, these raids aren’t really about legal versus illegal. They’re about targeting the most vulnerable.
For us, speaking up felt obvious. We’re an independent, minority-owned agency founded by immigrants. But what surprised me was how few others joined us. Over the past few weeks, agencies have been largely silent. I know Cannes was happening; I saw it everywhere in my feed. But while everyone was off celebrating creativity, the raids continued—and spread.
Even before Cannes, our industry’s employees felt the silence, not just publicly but internally at their offices. Those of us who did speak out heard from some of your staff, “We wish someone at our agency would even bring this up, but it’s just BAU around here.”
This isn’t just a West Coast issue, either. Raids are happening nationwide. And according to multiple sources, nearly 70% of those being detained have no criminal record and no warrants.
So why should our industry weigh in? Thus far, I’ve seen a few posts about the potential financial impact—declining sales, reduced store traffic, and the long-term risks of alienating multicultural communities. All important, of course. But I’d like to offer two more reasons why we, as agencies and brands, should demonstrate we care.