Since the start of school a few weeks ago, Elias Cepeda has been out patrolling the streets around several elementary schools in Pilsen, the neighborhood where he grew up.

Sometimes he drives around in his car, other times on foot. He’s on the lookout for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents or any immigration enforcement activity in the community.

During pick up and drop off, Cepeda and the team he’s helped organize to monitor the area around 11 different schools.

“The idea of patrolling is to be more proactive,” he said.

When he’s not out roaming Pilsen’s streets, Cepeda runs a mixed martial arts academy in the Lower West Side community, where he teaches jiu jitsu and self-defense. And in between he’s also finishing up his doctorate in American literature at Southern Illin

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