Montana

Billings students transform prejudice into pride • Daily Montanan

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2024

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Billings students transform prejudice into pride • Daily Montanan

Ysabelle Ruiz told classmates that her name was Bella Smith.

That was just easier.

It was easier not to explain the spelling of her name (yes, it begins with a Y, followed by an S).

It helped avoid conversations about the last name Ruiz, too. Those things often led to a conversation about her Mexican heritage and some of the associated hostility that goes along with that.

And her experiences weren’t so different than those of her fellow students who gathered before the unveiling ceremony at Billings’ South Park on Saturday.

They all told similar stories of students and residents making snide comments.

Of the five students, all said that someone has threatened to call Immigration Services on them. Several had been told the border wall at the southern U.S. border is meant for them.

However, on Saturday, students gathered to offer a different perspective to the community, including on the south side of Billings, which has been home to Hispanic families for more than a century. They literally put their mark on South Park, a popular gathering place. The students of Raza Unida, or united race in Spanish, created a mural that depicts Our Lady of Gudalupe with symbols that represent the experience of Chicanos and Latinos in Billings.

Raza Unida is a club in Billings Public Schools meant to showcase the diversity and culture of Hispanic students.

Billings, which is Montana’s largest city, is home to a large Hispanic community and celebrates the state’s oldest Hispanic cultural celebration and fiesta, dating back more than a century. Still, despite its history, these students talk about either being invisible, or even worse, targeted as “illegals” or lumped into a category of “Mexicans.”

The group hopes that creating the mural, which was brought to life through the painting of south Billings resident Elyssa Leininger, that people will see the depth of the Hispanic culture, which spans the western hemisphere. Even though Leininger said she’d never created a mural of Hispanic culture and is not a Latina, she grew up and still lives on the south side of Billings and said it was about creating more community in her neighborhood.

That’s the same for Alyssia Nava, the organizer of Raza Unida, who is part of the support staff at Billings Public Schools. She originally formed the group when she was a student to raise awareness and understanding, and restarted the group recently. Skyview High teacher Brooke Stone stepped in to become the advisor, saying even though she was not Hispanic, there was no way she’d let the group disappear because other teachers didn’t take an interest.

“It’s empowering for them to show their heritage and for other students, it helps them understand,” Stone said.

Billings Public School Superintendent Erwin Garcia-Velasquez, himself an immigrant from Colombia, was there to celebrate the moment and support the students on the day after school concluded for the year.

“It feels right that our students should have this,” he said.

Nava said the mural is a good first step for all students, and that even those who are unfamiliar with Hispanic cultures can begin a conversation.

“It’s truly been amazing to hear that they have the same passion. We stand by our Chicano and Latinos who are the future of this nation,” she said. “The more recognition we can get, the easier it will be for them to be OK as a Mexican-American or a Puerto Rican. We have done a great job with Indian Education for All, now it will be easier to get somewhere with this.”

Our Lady of Gudalupe holds particular importance because it symbolizes peace and transcends one particular country or identity. Flags from countries both in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean, border the mural, and other symbols from Montana are incorporated into it just as the students have become part of the Billings community, the students said.

The students said that they wanted to choose a place in South Park because that’s traditionally been home to Hispanic families. They said they wanted to place the mural there as a symbol of pride, turning what is sometimes used as a putdown — being from the south side — to a point of pride.

Students (left to right) Larissa Guttierrez, Cecelia Aarness, Treyannah Lewis, Ysabelle Ruiz and Adrian Williams are part of Raza Unida of Billings Public Schools. They came together to create the mural of Our Lady of Gudalupe for South Park in Billings, Montana (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Ysabelle Ruiz and Adrian Williams talk about their experience creating a mural in South Park in Billings, and also about the hostility they sometimes encounter in the community being Hispanic (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Father Jose Marquez of Mary Queen of Peace Roman Catholic parish blesses the mural of Our Lady of Gudalupe in South Park in Billings, Montana on June 1, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Rev. Jose Marquez of Mary Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Congregation blesses the mural of Our Lady of Gudalupe in South Park in Billings, Montana at its dedication on June 1, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick).

The monarch butterfly, an important symbol in Mexican culture and for Hispanics living in Montana. The detail is part of the mural of Our Lady of Gudalupe in South Park in Billings, Montana at its dedication on June 1, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick).

A toddler touches the cactus bloom in the mural of Our Lady of Gudalupe in South Park in Billings, Montana at its dedication on June 1, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick).

Students unveil the mural by the public school club Raza Unida of Our Lady of Gudalupe in South Park in Billings, Montana on June 1, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

A mariachi band plays to celebrate the dedication of the mural of Our Lady of Gudalupe at South Park in Billings, Montana on June 1, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick).

“We wanted to expand people’s knowledge of Hispanic culture,” said Cecila Aarness.

For example, there is farming and sugar beets, a reference to the farmworkers who originally settled in northern Wyoming and throughout eastern Montana to work the back-breaking labor of tending and harvesting sugar beets.

Cecelia Aarness also pointed to the low-rider as something that demonstrates pride in an aspect uniquely Hispanic.

Ruiz explained the importance of the monarch butterflies to Mexicans in Montana — they journey from Mexico back to Montana, and have come to symbolize the spiritual connection between the two places and the generations who lived in both.

“This is a positive response to being called a ‘border hopper,’” Ruiz said. “Rather than just getting into an argument this is way to help form a positive reaction.”

Treyannah Lewis said including things like low-riders or Our Lady of Gudalupe is a way of claiming with pride the symbols of the culture, rather than downplaying them.

“This tells Hispanic people that they matter. It’s a big deal,” Lewis said.

Aarness said that most people associate Our Lady of Gudalupe with the ubiquitous candles used in many Roman Catholic homes.

“This brings her outside, into the world. It’s a main representation in Hispanic culture,” Aarness said. “This brings her outside, into the light.”

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Montana

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

Published

1 hour ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

ROUNDUP, Mont. —
The Rehder Creek Fire is burning 16 miles southeast of Roundup has grown to about 5,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders for residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision.

The fire started Feb. 26, the cause is unknown and containment was at 0%.

Evacuation orders are in effect for all residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision. The Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating the evacuation orders, and 911 reverse calls have been sent out to advise people in the area.

A shelter is opening at the Roundup Community Center. Residents were told to contact Musselshell County DES for further information.

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority. The public is asked to avoid the Fattig Creek and Rehder Road area so emergency personnel can safely and effectively perform their work.

Fire resources assigned to the incident include 40 total personnel, 11 engines, one Type 2 helicopter, three tenders and two dozers.

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Montana

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

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14 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

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Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) – joined by Representative Pramila Jayapal, the Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, and 22 other Members of Congress – sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons calling for the immediate closure of Camp East Montana in El Paso. They cite urgent humanitarian concerns following multiple deaths in custody, documented unsafe conditions, and serious deficiencies in medical care.

This marks the fourth letter Congresswoman Escobar has sent to DHS and ICE leadership. The previous three letters have gone unanswered.

The letter can be found in its entirety below and here.

“Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:

We are urgently calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to shut down Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas.

Camp East Montana has been operational for six months, and at least three people have died at the site since December 2025: Francisco Gaspar-Andres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, and Victor Manuel Diaz. The El Paso County Medical Examiner has officially ruled Lunas Campos’ death a homicide, citing “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.”

Camp East Montana was constructed in a matter of weeks and opened before construction was complete and it does not have enough federal staff on-site to provide adequate oversight. Over the last several months, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, in whose district this facility is located, has sent multiple letters to DHS and ICE regarding concerns about the conditions at Camp East Montana, and has received no responses.

According to detainees, there have been constant and consistent problems at the facility since it opened, beginning with the facility’s poor construction and poor ambient temperature control. Upon opening, the drinking water at Camp East Montana tasted foul and made some detainees sick. Detainees continue to be served inadequate meals, including food that is rotten or frozen; last fall, the facility was also consistently failing to make dietary accommodations for detainees. Detainees have shared that they have sporadic access to outside spaces and recreational areas, and that their dormitory pods are cleaned only once every eight days, despite pods housing up to 72 people at a time. Laundry services are not consistent, and people are washing their clothes in the facility showers. Additionally, the facility experiences flooding and sewage backups when it rains, leading to stagnant water.

One of the biggest concerns with the Camp East Montana facility is the inadequate medical care being provided to detainees. Our offices have heard that only the most ill detainees are referred to the medical unit and that there are inconsistencies as to how soon after arriving detainees are able to undergo initial medical screenings. Detainees with chronic health issues who rely on regimented medications for their health have had difficulty accessing necessary medications, including blood pressure medication and insulin.

At least one of the deaths that occurred in ICE custody, the death of Francisco Gaspar-Andres, appears to partially be the result of poor medical care by staff at the facility. According to ICE’s own account, Gaspar-Andres sought medical attention from facility staff for increasingly serious symptoms, but was only transferred to an area hospital once his condition had severely deteriorated.

In addition to our concerns about poor medical care, we are also aware that detainees have experienced irregular access to their legal counsel, including instances of detainees having only two minutes allotted per phone call every 8 days, which is contrary to ICE’s Detention Standards on access to counsel, and that the belatedly created law library lacks adequate resources for the amount of people currently held at the facility. In January 2026, ICE announced the on-site death of Geraldo Lunas Campos “after experiencing medical distress.” ICE opened an investigation into the death, but did not provide a cause of death. However, The Washington Post later reported that another man detained at Camp East Montana had witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos when he refused to enter a segregated housing unit. Weeks later, the El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled that Lunas Campos had experienced “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression” and ruled his death a homicide.

Lunas Campos is the first detainee to die at Camp East Montana as a result of a use-of-force incident, but we are strongly concerned that he will not be the last if ICE is allowed to continue operating Camp East Montana.

ICE was given $45 billion in taxpayer dollars in the reconciliation bill, $1.2 billion of which were awarded to Acquisition Logistics, LLC, a company with no previous experience managing immigration detention facilities, to build and oversee Camp East Montana. However, in the wake of three deaths in custody so far, continued concerns about conditions at the facility, and ICE’s apparent disinterest in responding to oversight letters from Congress, we do not believe Camp East Montana is being run professionally or responsibly.

Camp East Montana must be shut down. For the safety of everyone at the facility, for an end to abuses to detainees, and for fiscal responsibility to the American people, the site cannot continue to operate. We are calling on DHS and ICE to move to immediately close operations at Camp East Montana.

We look forward to hearing from the Department promptly on this matter.

The other co-signers include Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Yvette Clarke, Lloyd Doggett, Maxwell Frost, Jesús “Chuy” García, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Henry Johnson, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Darren Soto, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Lauren Underwood, Gabe Vasquez, and Nydia Velázquez.

Issues: Immigration

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