Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago and Carlos Chang, were remembered as vibrant, law-abiding citizens by friends and family who spoke during the nearly two hour gathering.
“Carlos is an amazing person who supports the community, and he deserves to live in this country, because he’s a good person and doesn’t have any problems with the law,” said Erika Arevalo, who said he worked for five years with Chang at Cosecha Massachusetts, an advocacy group.
Erika Grevalo, a friend of Cata “Xochitl” Santiago, attended the vigil that drew about 100 people to Lombardi Memorial Park. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Chang, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who lived in Lawrence, was detained by US Customs and Immigration on July 29 at his workplace in Maine. He has been in the United States for 17 years and is now at a detention center in Tampa, Miranda said.
“It’s been incredibly painful for me to have a family member in detention and not be able to communicate with him,” said Josias Orozco, Chang’s cousin, through a translator.
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Santiago, who lived in Massachusetts from 2016 and 2020, was detained at an airport in El Paso Aug. 3 while traveling for work. She came to the U.S. legally at age 8 on the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the federal program better known as DACA that protects undocumented people who arrived as children.
Cata “Xochitl” Santiago, who lived in Mass. from 2016 to 2020, entered the US under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Santiago’s detention, despite her DACA status, shows an “escalation” of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, said Miles Meth, her friend for nearly 10 years.
“Her case is like a test from the administration to see how much people are willing to turn away or how exhausted they are with everything going on in the world,” he said.
Meth and Miranda called Santiago’s detention “unlawful,” and protests against her arrest have been held across the country, including in Texas and New Mexico.
In a statement to local El Paso news outlet KFox14, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Santiago had a criminal history including “charges for trespassing, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.”
A table at the vigil provided information about Santiago and Chang, who are in ICE detention out of state. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
At the East Boston vigil, two tables were strewn with flowers and candles in honor of Santiago and Chang. Attendees were encouraged to write letters to Chang, which organizers will mail to him.
As organizers, the pair were well known for their work to pass the Massachusetts law that allows undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver’s license. Chang and a cousin were known to play drums loudly at rallies and marches.
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“This community has suffered a lot – a lot of people have been detained,” said Meth, who has known Chang since 2019. “Spirits could get really low, and he was always the person who was bringing so much joy to places.”
Santiago was “fearless” with “a lot of personality,” Meth said.
People of all ages attended the nearly two-hour vigil Sunday night. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Emily Spatz can be reached at emily.spatz@globe.com. Follow her on X @emilymspatz.
“No Kings” rallies are scheduled in Boston and across Massachusetts on Saturday and are expected to draw large crowds, organizers said.
Organized by the ACLU of Massachusetts, Indivisible Mass Coalition, and Mass 50501, the event is a mass mobilization in protest of the Trump administration.
The No Kings theme was created by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
“The Trump administration is trying to shred the Constitution; the No Kings movement is an unequivocal statement that we, the people, will not let that happen. This will be the third global No Kings Day, and it’s not just about protesting what’s wrong—it’s about building something better. We intend to show our power, build our power, and power a democracy that advances freedom, equality, justice, and dignity for all,” organizers wrote.
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The rally, one of thousands scheduled across the country this weekend, is planned for the Boston Common from 2 to 4 p.m. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend Boston’s rally. Other events are scheduled in Pittsfield, Northampton, Lancaster, Worcester, Framingham, Methuen, Lexington, and towns in southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape. For a map of No Kings events near you, click here.
Speakers include elected officials Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Gov. Maura Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and civic leaders Hessann Farooqi Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Darlene Lombos, president of the Greater Boston Labor Council, Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, and others. It will be moderated by Rahsaan Hall, president and CEO of Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
There will also be performances by the Dropkick Murphys, Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians, BVOCAL Chorus, and Jimmy Tingle.
A previous No Kings rally in October drew massive crowds estimated in the tens of thousands.
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston
An aerial view of the crowd at Boston’s “No Kings” rally on the Common on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
ALLSTON, MASS. (WHDH) – Boston police are searching for a gunman who opened fire in Allston Thursday and left one person hurt.
Police responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of Brighton Avenue at approximately 6:46 p.m. When officers arrived, they said they found a male “juvenile” suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim’s age has not been released.
Boston police said the shooter fled the scene and remains at large. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston police.
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This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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