On the corner of Sidney Baker and Main streets in Kerrville, about 200 people gathered Saturday to show their support for undocumented workers, who face mass deportation under the return of President Donald Trump.

It was noisy and enthusiastic and met with plenty of positive support from those driving by. It was part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the plight of millions of undocumented people facing removal from the U.S., including more than one million in Texas.

The demonstration, organized by Kerrville’s Sarah Salinas, brought together several church groups, including a large contingent from Kerrville’s Unitarian Universalist congregation.

“I think all of this has brought a lot of fear,” said Andrea Caballero, who was making signs to pass out to the demonstrators.

The fear is real for many in Kerr County’s Hispanic community leading to school district officials to assure parents of immigrants that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were not raiding schools.

The protest contradicts the popular sentiment supporting President Trump’s deportation efforts. According to a Gallup Poll conducted before Trump took office, Americans had high expectations for his immigration policies but low expectations for his ability to unify the country. CBS News found Trump’s deportation policy has majority approval overall, reflecting the preferences of many voters during the campaign, and there is considerable support for deploying troops to the border. While Americans are divided on the creation of large detention centers, Trump’s supporters in the 2024 election strongly favor this idea.

Across the street from the protest, two people held a sign that proclaimed “Trump Won,” one woman in Trump regalia wandered through the crowd and right-wing disc jockey Harley David Belew drove by scowling in his aging Humvee adorned in patriotic decorations.

However, none of that mattered to the demonstrators, who shouted “we love you” to those who didn’t agree with their viewpoint.