Phoenix music scene comes together in support of immigrant communities

Against the backdrop of over 60,000 detainments and deportations —as per an NBC News tracker — and a massive budget approval of over $170 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to continue those efforts, Phoenix businesses and artists are pushing back against the Trump administration by raising funds of their own. 

Now, the unique three-day micro MELT Festival near Flagstaff is the kick-start for the Voices United Phoenix initiative, in which co-founders and organizers Sebastian Del Portillo and Lyle Begiebing are partnering with grassroots organizations Poder in Action and Puente Human Rights Movement to help raise money for their Emergency Legal Defense Fund to support ICE detainees and their families.

The initiative was formed after the organizers realized that their frustration and concern regarding the predatory practices used by ICE to target and detain migrants, both documented and undocumented, were shared by dozens of other local artists and businesses. 

Del Portillo, who is also the deputy campaigns director with Organized Power in Numbers (OPIN), described when his longtime friend, Begiebing, first heard about OPIN’s already implemented fundraising efforts to assist migrants when he prompted, “Why aren’t we disseminating this in the music community?” 

“All these people that are part of the EDM scene don’t agree with what’s going on, want to do something about it, and he sort of proposed doing this fundraiser in collaboration with us, put it in action,” Del Portillo said. “That collaboration is one based on that friendship and that trust, but also on the desire from the music scene to do more in this political context we’re in for working people and for immigrant communities.” 

While the MELT Festival doesn’t actually kick off from its serene wooded location at Playa Ponderosa until Sept. 26, fundraising events have already started across the Valley. 

From takeovers held at Blue Bar in Walter Studios on Aug. 15 and the Pemberton on the 17, to events at Linger Longer Lounge and Central Records at the end of August, these fundraising nights use OPIN’s canvassing training to get everyday people in the community involved and educated on the dangers of the current political climate. Additionally, for every dollar donated during these events, many organizations, businesses and artists — including Secret Sessions, Recess Phoenix, Topsecret Bus and Sunday Sessions Radio — have pledged to match all donations until their goal of $3,000 for the defense fund is reached.

“We’ve seen so many people affected here in our local community. Organized Power in Numbers, Puente, they partnered with many, many other groups across the country for this fund, and everyone connected to those groups that they’ve been in touch with who’s been affected… they’re giving money to over 1,000 cases already,” Begiebing said. “Anyone that’s in the local community and works with these groups has access to (the fund). It’s just a direct way to help the local community. That’s what feels so good about it… Donating to this goes straight to helping legal cases, fighting the deportation cases, or supporting the family right here in our community.” 

Del Portillo, who is an immigrant from Colombia and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen when he was younger, says he understands more than most the struggles of migrants in this country and says that immigrants are used more often than not as a scapegoat for the ultra-rich who exploit labor from the working class and immigrant communities. 

“I think American anger is completely misplaced on the immigrant community. This is a country of foreigners… The only native people to these lands are Indigenous people. And, of course, if you’ve had family here for generations, you’re from here and you’re American, but Americans are immigrants by definition,” Del Portillo said. “I do feel like a duty in my position in life, and in the privilege that I’ve had of having more opportunity than my counterpart, my peers and my family, to protect them and also to protect the spirit of this country, which is a foundation of immigrant communities seeking opportunity and a better life.” 

As the two-week fundraising efforts come to a close, Del Portillo and Begiebing say they hope to maintain the momentum. 

Voices United Phoenix’s online auction came to an end at Central Records on Sunday night alongside a lineup of local DJs. There are still over 35 partners and businesses across the Valley that the pair hopes to host more events with in the future, leading up to the MELT Festival. 

“It’s really great to see so many people and entities down to put their name down for this and be a part of it. It just feels like everything’s getting worse very fast,” Begiebing said. “The protests were one thing, but then that was even before the Bill was passed where they just ballooned ICE’s budget… and they’re going to be building the 100 plus million, billion towards detention centers, so it’s only getting worse and worse, and we can’t turn out back and forget about this.” 

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and people have overwhelmingly wanted to participate and do something about it,” Del Portillo said. “Folks don’t know what to do. So, we’re actually able to provide options of action for people at different levels, and through action, you really relieve fear.” 

Supporters and those interested in donating to the cause can stay up-to-date with the latest updates by following MELT Fest on social media as more events and pop-ups are announced.