Because…
I vote because my life depends on it, literally and figuratively. As a Black, queer, low-income mother, another four years of what we’ve had feels like I’m signing over my own death certificate.
Category: Immigration
July 8, 2021 Domenica Ghanem
The Pandemic Cost Him Everything. But the Child Tax Credit Is Giving His Family Hope.
Phil came to the U.S. in search of opportunity, but when COVID-19 hit he lost his job, immigration status, and health care when he needed it the most. Name has […]
‘The Undocumented Americans’ Captures the Reality of a Community Living in Fear
You’d be hard pressed to find a meaningful literary platform for undocumented immigrants who work as day laborers, housekeepers, deliverymen, construction workers or students to share their raw and complex […]
Because…
I Vote Because I Want To Be a Cause Beyond Myself I wasn’t eligible to vote until the 2012 Presidential election. During that time, I was a freshman in college […]
Because…
Still. I vote because of his work. I have made a conscious decision that his work and that of countless others cannot be in vain. I must remember that sacrifice of those before us, their persistence and refusal to back down, runs through my veins.
Six Issues We Expect the Candidates to Address During the First Presidential Debate
It’s imperative the candidates address how they are thinking about how they will ensure voters’ basic needs are met as we continue to live through this pandemic, and beyond.
Voices of Everyday Leaders
Digital Organizing In The Time of COVID In the age of social-distancing, many of our everyday leaders have shifted how they operate. From educators offering instruction from a virtual classroom […]
Marching 230 miles to the steps of the Supreme Court, reminding America #HomeIsHere
On Sunday, more than 160 Dreamers and allies arrived in Washington, D.C., after marching 230 miles starting in New York. Step by step, their journey reminds all of us that […]
We cannot tolerate innocent children dying on our watch. No matter where they are born
I recently heard U.S. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney on local News12 reference the inhuman treatment of undocumented immigrants being detained in our overcrowded border patrol facilities. Every time I hear […]
Our Voices Unite in Washington, Reminding Congress #Not1Dollar for ICE
#NOT1DOLLAR means no more money to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). What we, the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM and FIRM Action), […]
How Community Organizing Helped Me Branch Out While Staying Grounded in My Roots
We all want to see our communities grow into places where all families can thrive. Correia’s reflections reveal how his experience with community engagement and organizing can result in environmental justice and overall powerful change.
We are reliving one of America’s darkest moments by detaining immigrant children in former Japanese American Internment Camps
When I first learned about how my grandparents were imprisoned in WWII’s Japanese American Internment Camps, I was embarrassed, hurt, and unwilling to accept history as truth. Now ,as President […]
Advocacy Network Holds Presidential Candidates Accountable to Bold Immigration Solutions
Earlier this summer, FIRM Action, Community Change Action, and CHIRLA Action Fund hosted the Unity and Freedom Presidential Forum to elevate the voices of immigrants and engage presidential candidates in […]
Voices of Everyday Leaders
De Colores: Bright Colors of Love This is where I begin. I come from poverty and group homes throughout Los Angeles. There are stories along the 405 N that I will […]
On Motherhood and Movement Work: Women leaders approach both with ferocity and love
As I sat on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico for a retreat with fellow immigrant rights leaders from the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), I couldn’t help but be […]
The 60 most dangerous days for Floridians: When their legislators gather
I once heard the Florida legislative session referred to as the sixty most dangerous days of the year for people in the state. At the end of the 2019 session, […]
Deportation force harasses Florida’s hard-working immigrant families
Almost two years ago, I wrote a story published in the HuffPost about the silent raids that are disappearing people from our community in South Florida. I am sad to […]
Transforming Pain into Power a Year After a Mass Raid
Around 150 people were gathered and said “Presente” after the names of each of person deported a year ago was read out loud. This was a gathering in early April […]
Immigrants make their voices heard in Florida’s capitol
Last week, over three hundred immigrants and other community members mobilized to Florida’s capitol in Tallahassee to defend and protect our communities from Republican lawmakers who are once again attempting to pass […]
Voices of Everyday Leaders
Today, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2019 slate of finalists. This “short list” of nominees honors the year’s outstanding restaurants, chefs, and food-centric journalism, books, and broadcast media. Community […]
No papers. No fear. New House bill could create a road map for citizenship.
More than two dozen immigrants chanted “Sin Papeles, Sin miedo, No Papers, No Fear” as they stood on the podium at the Capitol in DC before starting the press conference […]
Children belong with family, not caged in for-profit detention centers
As the Trump administration continues to make it as difficult as possible for people fleeing extreme conditions to seek asylum within the United States, thousands of migrant children are sent […]
Everyday Leaders: Reflections after the 2019 Selma March
“My name is Isaias and I am Undocumented and Unafraid.” This is the usual greeting for many undocumented immigrants in meetings to assert our presence. The whole room applauded in […]
My Sister: A Domestic Worker. And My Hero!
The movie Roma has received all kinds of recognition and acclaim, including three Academy awards. Its star, Yalitza Aparcio, a first-time actor who portrayed the lead role of a housekeeper […]
How to stop another nightmare government shutdown
We – “we” meaning all Americans who still believe we are united as a nation that cares for our own – face an apocalyptic nightmare scenario. In Hollywood, the apocalypse […]
Trump address to the nation is more anti-immigrant xenophobia
Donald Trump presented no solutions during his first oval office address to the nation to end a more than two-week long government shutdown that has left 800,000 government workers working […]
En la Florida los votantes estan activos por Gillum
En la Florida los votantes estan bien activos. Este 6 de noviembre muchos dicen que van a unir el voto por Andrew Gillum para gobernador. Dicen que van a votar […]
Trump’s “public charge” rule puts immigrant families at risk
In early October, the Trump administration proposed changes to the “public charge” rule which would prevent immigrants on the path to citizenship who use some government benefits from gaining permanent […]
What the War on Citizenship Means to Your Vote
After 35 years in the United States, my father Joaquin Fernandez finally decided to become a citizen for one reason: He wanted to vote for the first woman president. From […]
As a social worker, my heart breaks for the children in our detention camps
For 18 years, I worked in the Child Welfare System. I witnessed firsthand the trauma and harm children who were separated from their parents suffered from. Today, when I see […]
Young voters in Florida state why they are voting this November
I’m speaking to voters at a candidate forum for young voters in Miami on why the November 2018 elections matter to them. Check them out. Be inspired. Let’s unite the […]
Floridians must come together in voting
The 2018 elections are crucial and we are uniting communities of color to cast their ballot for equality for all. I decided to walk around my neighborhood asking people if […]
Citizenship Question on the U.S. Census Hurts Immigrant Families
A Muslim ban. Family separation at the border. Ending Temporary Protected Status. And now, a question on the 2020 census asking each household a question about citizenship that is designed […]
From zero tolerance to zero harm: steps for mending shattered migrant families
By Catherine LaBrenz, John Sullivan and Esther Calzada We’ve all seen the excitement in a child’s eyes when they play with their parents in the park, or the calm that […]
Immigrants, not France, are the real World Cup winners
After weeks of suspense, France emerged the winner of the World Cup with a resounding 4-2 victory over Croatia. What is clear to anybody who watched the tournament from the […]
This is what #AbolishICE really means
Growing up, most of my friends and neighbors did not know what the acronym ICE stood for. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency which oversaw the detention and deportation of […]
Private prisons make more money the more people they keep incarcerated. In Florida, activists are working to stop the practice.
As Americans we believe deeply in freedom and fairness. We believe that we should be free to pursue the American dream, no matter your station in life or where you […]
Separating children from parents continues America’s painful history of criminalizing immigrants
Toddlers crying after they are torn from their parents’ arms. Mothers, sitting in chainmail cages, using foil blankets for warmth. A father who committed suicide after being separated from his […]
How to Measure What We’re Losing: As this country moves further away from its humanity, who will be left to fight for what’s right?
Wednesday was World Refugee Day. It’s supposed to be a day to bring awareness to the struggles faced by displaced people across the world. A day to reaffirm our commitment […]
Bringing the Community Together, One Business at a Time
Bounce Milwaukee closed on May Day in observance of Voces de la Frontera’s “Day Without Immigrants” strike and rally.
Immigrant justice and criminal justice reform go hand-in-hand
In the Trump era, efforts to curtail the aggressive criminalization of immigrant communities have largely focused on the fight over sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities are localities that welcome immigrants and […]
After Trump’s fake deadline on Dreamers passes, immigrant youth still in limbo
In the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, the focus of lawmakers has largely shifted from finding a solution for the thousands of Dreamers who have been left under threat of […]
Militarizing our schools leaves immigrant youth vulnerable
After 17 children were shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, is the answer to preventing gun violence in America arming teachers? Across the country, we have seen rhetoric […]
Trump’s efforts to keep immigrant families apart hearkens to our racist immigration past
Our country’s modern history of immigration is built on white men’s attempts to create a whiter nation. Donald Trump’s efforts to tear at family reunification in the name of ‘ending […]
Their voices matter: Meet the #HumansOfDACA
Six months ago, President Trump broke a commitment when he ended DACA, a program supported by a majority of Americans and which gives 800,000 young people a chance to achieve […]
Voting to protect our families is not a privilege; it’s a necessity.
There is a line in the opening scene of Goethe’s play Faust that reads, “A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.” It is a sentiment […]
Xenophobia is not foreign to America
After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, advertisements for “Jap Hunting Licenses” hung in store windows. Life Magazine ran the article, “How to tell your friends from the Japs.” […]
A Year of Fighting for our Families and Friends
The Center for Community Change, in its work with the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), has been standing steadfast against attacks against our family and friends. Even in the face of Trump’s non-stop barrage of hateful immigration policies, FIRM and its members did not hide in the shadows. FIRM members showed up countless times this year at rallies, at Congressional offices, held hunger strikes and never let their voices be silenced. And we are determined to continue to push forward in the year ahead.
Taking the bus now dangerous if you are an immigrant
The Greyhound bus company is currently in the midst of a public relations disaster due to a series of videos which were released on the internet by the organization I […]
Trump’s War on Families Intensifies
After a 17-year journey, my parents will no longer be undocumented. This was no easy feat to accomplish, I lived 11 of those years without papers along with them, and […]
We Are Unafraid. We are #HereToStay.
Call 1-866-575-9410 to tell Speaker Paul Ryan to stand with immigrants and pass DREAM Act legislation that provides a permanent solution for dreamers without adding money to Trump’s deportation force.
Florida Lawmakers Are Taking Anti-immigrant Bias To New Heights And Preparing To Hurt More Families In The Process
Early in 2017, Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening to rescind federal funds from local municipalities that refuse to criminalize immigrant communities. The executive order has suffered numerous legal […]
Who are the DREAMers?
Dreamers are the nearly 800,000 people whose immigration and work statuses are protected by DACA.
Raising their voices at the Latin Grammy Awards with Alejandro Sanz for #DreamActNow
30 young leaders came together at The Latin Grammys to spotlight the urgent need for the Dream Act.
CBU freshman ‘had a breakdown’ when she learned of DOJ plan to end DACA
Chantel Barcenas had an identity crisis when learning she was not a U.S. citizen. An Obama-era policy helped her find a sense of purpose — all now in flux
Florida Hotline Offers Immigrants A Lifeline
Since the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, the daily lives of undocumented immigrants in this country have become nerve wracking. The hateful rhetoric espoused by Trump during his […]
I’m Not A Dreamer Or Immigrant, But We Share Common Values
My encounter with Dreamers last month happened by chance. I was sitting in my local library when an employee tapped me on the shoulder, and asked in hush-hush please speak […]
South Florida Immigrants And Communities Of Color Still Struggling To Recover Post-Irma
In the last couple of weeks, Floridians have struggled with Hurricane Irma and its aftermath. Foreseeing the impact that this storm would have on low-income communities, a coalition of various […]
Criminalizing Immigrants Puts Them At Risk During Hurricanes And Other Disasters
In the midst of the tragedy that befell the people of Texas during Hurricane Harvey, I wrote an article detailing the hardships endured by the undocumented immigrant community of Houston […]
Let ‘dreamers’ live in the US — their home
I woke the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 29 to the sound of my mother crying on the other side of the wall. I was paralyzed as I listened to her […]
Almost 1 Million Immigrant Youths Are Realizing The American Dream. Don’t Steal It From Them, Trump.
DACA has allowed DREAMers, who were brought to this country as children, to be spared from deportation while also allowing them to work and attend college.
We Could Have Avoided The Deaths Of The Undocumented Immigrants In Texas
This article initially appeared on the Huffington Post. When my parents came to the United States almost two decades ago, they did not think that they would spend all those […]
Despite Promises, Florida Police Are Acting Like Immigration Agents And Separating Families
This article first appeared on the Huffington Post. Driving without a license can be a daily nerve wrecking experience for a lot of undocumented immigrants living and working in the […]
Art Gives Voice To Young People Hurt By Trump’s Deportation Machine
This article first appeared in the Huffington Post. Growing up undocumented, one of my biggest fears was being separated from my family. I remember the anxiety and worry I felt […]
Let’s Stop Donald Trump From Wielding His Budget As A Weapon Against Hardworking Immigrant Families
This article first appeared on the Huffington Post. For a big chunk of my childhood, teenage years and early adulthood, my parents and I were undocumented immigrants in this country, […]
We Will Continue To Fight The Hate Deep In The Heart of Texas
This article first appeared on the Huffington Post. In 2011, the Florida legislature attempted to pass an Arizona-style “show me your papers” law at the behest of Republican Governor Rick […]
Immigrant Children Are Trump’s Collateral Damage
All these actions by the administration put our children and their families under threat more than ever before.
Trump’s Hypocrisy On Full Display: Bomb Syria, But Don’t Let Syrians In
Over 400,000 Syrians have been killed since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, yet the Trump administration has done nothing about it.
The GOP’s Anti-immigrant Agenda Is Forcing Children To Live in Fear
Our President’s actions will unfortunately shape the formative years of some of our most vulnerable youth.
In this battle over Muslim immigration, we are all family
Because of our history and heritage, black Americans should recognize the humanity in their struggle
As Trump Inauguration Looms, Immigrants Stand Up To Private Prison Industry
All across the country in dozens of cities, communities are gearing up for January 14th, a national day of action where people will link arms and stand up against the […]
Supreme Court Immigration Ruling Could Stop the Intimidation of American Citizens
Written by Kica Matos, Center for Community Change Director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice, and Frank Sharry, Founder and Executive Director for America’s Voice, an immigration reform group. Teenaged […]
Our Pilgrimage for Immigrant Rights Remains Strong in the Face of Adversity
Photo via We Belong Together. There was a lot going on last month with the pope’s visit to DC. The pope addressed a joint session of Congress and spoke on […]
UFCW Leading the Fight for Immigration Reform
In 2014, there were 8.1 million undocumented immigrants employed in the United States. These hard-working men and women live in constant fear of arrest and deportation which would rip their […]
The Politics of Hate
This piece was originally published on The Hill. Last week was one of those moments in history when the politics of hatred seized hold and as a nation we fell […]
MLK and the “Beloved Community”
On Friday, January 16th, Kica Matos, Director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change, delivered the keynote address at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s 30th […]
Why Every Day Should Be National Voter Registration Day
Today is National Voter Registration Day; a day when organizations across the country reach out to their respective communities encouraging them to register and turn out to vote. In light […]
Crossing Over: An Eye-Opening Read
After finishing the book Crossing Over by Ruben Martínez, there was one story that I couldn’t get out of my head. The nonfiction book follows the journeys of many immigrant […]
Darkest Before the Dawn
Originally posted on Fox News Latino. Rudy Lopez, Senior Organizer at the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, participated as a core faster in the Fast for Families: A Call for Immigration […]
Of Love And Politics, And Jeb Bush’s Surprising Statement
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in Fox News Latino. It was the immigrant and Latino vote that helped President Obama win the White House in 2008 and 2012 because […]
Why I Fasted
Last Wednesday, March 19th, I participated in the Women’s Fast for Families, a national fast organized by We Belong Together, in which women choose 24 hours to fast for immigration reform. At […]
America the Beautiful
Coca-Cola’s infamous 2014 Superbowl ad, titled “It’s Beautiful,” proves a couple of things in its role as the most controversial commercial of the night. First of all, its rendition of […]
Meeting Brenda Ortigoza
On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to shadow kids who were taking part in the “Keeping Families Together: Youth in Action” events on Capitol Hill as they made their way […]
Behind the Scenes Heroes
Before we met Joyce Dickinson, a retired home care worker in Florida, she didn’t know that she could pick up the phone and call her member of Congress. Ms. Dickinson […]
House Republicans- Where Are Your Priorities?
Late last week, the House passed a bill to restore regular federal funding to border security during the shutdown. This bill, called the Border Security and Safety Act, would ensure […]
Time to Do Something About Our Broken Immigration System
For anyone who does not think our immigration system is broken, here is the story of Sigifredo Saldana Iracheta, an immigrant and father whose attempts to be a U.S. citizen […]
“My Family Is Not Illegal.”
It vividly occurred to me at the October 8th rally outside the U.S. Capitol Building that it’s time to discuss immigration legislation now and to grant undocumented immigrants a chance […]
October 5th, 2013: Join the Fight!
On Saturday, October 5th, more than 80 mobilization efforts are planned to take place across the country to celebrate the National Day of Dignity and Respect. These efforts will […]
Preparing for Mass Mobilizations Across the Country on October 5th
Thousands of families across the country will mobilize on streets across the country on October 5th, and here’s why: Although we’ve sent out a very clear message at the polls, […]
GOP: Stop Pandering and Start Acting
This week, House Republicans released a video in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Prominent House Republicans, including Speaker of the House John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lauded Hispanics for […]
What I’ve Learned
To be honest, I didn’t know what I was signing up for when I accepted my internship at the Center for Community Change. I wanted to work on immigration reform […]
A Story Worth Covering
A so-called “rally” with Republicans’ leading anti-immigrant spokesman, Rep. Steve King (R-IA), flopped big time this week. While the event was widely publicized as a national kickoff to stir up […]
Why I Was Arrested
I was arrested for Oscar Alfaro. Oscar came to the U.S. to escape poverty and make enough money to support his family. Now, he fears being deported and separated from […]
Face Our Families!
Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) groups and allies will rally across the country on Saturday calling for the House GOP leadership to step up and support comprehensive immigration reform that […]
Another House Political Smoke and Mirrors Trick—The KIDS Act
As the House Judiciary Committee begins its review of the KIDS act, proposed by Representative Eric Cantor, its inadequacy is already becoming clear. The act is part of the House […]
Licensing Fairness
I don’t know what I would do without my driver’s license. Being from Los Angeles, I find driving to be an essential to getting my way around. But my license […]
Putting Faces on the Immigration Debate
Inside Out photo project has come to DC to take on immigration reform. The group, who uses large portraits taken in their mobile photo booth as art installations around the […]
The People Behind the Issues
In the five years that I have volunteered at schools in Tegucigalpa and Talanga Honduras I’ve been exposed to the reality of many things. The beauty of simple human interaction. […]
House Republicans: Our Deadline is August 2nd
As House Republicans debate whether or not they will act on immigration reform, they should remember the deadline of Aug. 2nd that the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) has set […]
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