East County Magazine

Trump aims to slash refugee admissions and add racist criteria
By Miriam Raftery Image left: Refugee issues covered by ECM over the years includes persecution of Iraqi Christians, Kurdish immigrations fleeing ISIS, a migrant crisis at the Mexican border, asylum

“We are immigrants” rally in Escondido celebrated immigrants’ contributions to America
East County News Service Photo via Indivisible North County San Diego and 50501 North County San Diego September 29, 2025 (Escondido) – Approximately 100 residents from Ramona, Temecula, Escondido, San

Supreme Court “legalized racial profiling” in Los Angeles ruling, immigration and civil liberties experts warn
By G. A. McNeeley September 14, 2025 (Los Angeles) — The Supreme Court has lifted restrictions that had barred the Trump administration from carrying out immigration-related raids in the Los
Migrant children sites in El Cajon and Lemon Grove shut down: Trump admin. drops lawsuit that accused operator of sexual abuse
Actions raise concerns over children’s wellbeing; their locations are undisclosed By Karen Pearlman Miriam Raftery contributed to this story; photos by East County Magazine staff Updated Aug.

ICE stops: exercise your rights with knowledge
By Alexander J. Schorr August 4, 2025 (San Diego) — In an age when it is uncertain who is a lawful agent of the US government and who is a

New Trump admin policy bars many students from adult school classes
By Adam Echelman, CalMatters Photo: students work on an assignment during an English as a second language class at the San Diego Continuing Education Mid-City campus in San Diego on

Behind the masks: who are the people rounding up immigrants in California?
By Michael Lozano, CalMatters Photo: a line of federal immigration agents and protesters stand-off near the Glass House Farms facility outside Camarillo on July 10, 2025. Protesters gathered after federal

Deaf Mongolian Immigrant Held by ICE In Otay Mesa for Months Without Access to Interpreter
The Otay Mesa Detention Center operated by CoreCivic. (Photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego) By Wendy Fry, CalMatters Update July 23, 2025 — ICE has released this

La Mesa Grandmother Detained By Ice While Serving as Legal Observer for Immigrants at Courthouse
By Miriam Raftery July 11, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident Barbara Stone, a 71-year old U.S. citizen and courthouse observer at immigration proceedings, is free tonight after being

SUPREME COURT LIMITS INJUNCTIONS THAT BLOCKED TRUMP’S PLAN FOR BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
“We are fighting to make sure President Trump cannot trample on the citizenship rights of a single child.” –Cody Wofsy, deputy director, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, which filed a

Hannah Shirley the pygmy hippo, turns 52
East County News Service Nov. 20, 2025 (Ramona) — San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center celebrated the coming 52nd birthday of Hannah Shirley (photo, left, courtesy San Diego
BalletCenter Studios bringing a twist on a holiday classic
“Clara & the Nutcracker Soldier” Comes to the Joan B. Kroc Theatre East County News Service Nov. 8, 2025 (San Diego) — A fresh take on the magical

Tour de Tapas starts lunch service in downtown La Mesa
East County News Service Oct. 24, 2025 (La Mesa) — Lunch service has begun at one of downtown La Mesa’s newest eating establishments. Tour de Tapas, which opened

Our guide to the Ramona Wine Region
By Miriam Raftery Overview Nestled in the foothills of San Diego’s East County, The Ramona region is nationally recognized as an American Viticultural Region (AVA). You can savor wines at