Like most of the nation and the world, the students and faculty in Michigan’s Latina/o Studies Program have followed—in horror—the stories about the deadly violence in El Paso, Texas. As scholars committed to understanding the experiences, challenges, and accomplishments of Latina/o people in the United States, we feel compelled to make a formal statement in the wake of this tragedy. First and foremost, we extend our deepest condolences to all of the persons who were personally affected by this tragedy. Many of us are from the border region and some of us know people who have been directly touched by this terrible event. We observe that this violence plays out against an ongoing backdrop of xenophobia, racism, and punitive state policies which have largely targeted Latina/o communities.  ICE raids, violations of human rights on the border, draconian immigration policies, indifference to the suffering of hurricane victims, and racially-targeted mass shootings have all created an environment of racial terror that presumes no role for Latina/o people in the nation. The best counter we can offer to the dangerous rhetoric and cruel actions is to encourage all people to educate themselves about the history and contemporary achievements of Latina/o people in the U.S. This tragedy has also exposed the abysmally small number of experts and journalists who can offer context to a grieving nation. We observe that this lack of expertise flows from the absence of Latina/os in primary and university curricula, an ongoing erasure of Latinx people that has allowed white supremacy to flourish through xenophobic narratives of "invasion" rather than belonging. Only when we all commit to understanding how deeply interwoven into U.S. culture Latina/os have been for the past 160 years, will we have a more equitable future. Saber es poder.