For Immigrant Heritage Month, those who participate in the Community Cafecitos space share what inspired them to join, as well as their hopes for a more welcoming future.
Immigrant Heritage Month is a time when communities across the country celebrate immigrants and their contributions, but this year’s commemoration was clouded by the Supreme Court’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) decision. They ruled in favor of the Administration’s plan to end temporary protections for migrants — clearing the way for the largest loss of legal immigration status in modern U.S. history.
It’s a stark reminder that celebrating immigrants must be rooted in a shared commitment to uphold their dignity and safety.
In moments like these, immigrants can turn to spaces such as Community Cafecitos, which Community Change’s Ingrid Zelaya-Ascencio founded two years ago this month. There, they gather to process how they’re feeling and access resources to support their communities.
One of the participants is Luz, 55, who lives in Florida She is a naturalized U.S. citizen who originally immigrated from Peru. Her mother, who is undocumented, has lived and worked in the United States for more than two decades. At 82-years-old, she continues to live with uncertainty about her future in the country she calls home.
“My mother made sacrifices coming here — she almost lost her life,” said Luz. “Thanks to her, we’re here. She paved the way for my sister and me.”
Today, Luz also has a family of her own, including a daughter who is a working professional.
“It makes me proud that the first generation paves the way,” said Luz. “My children won’t be forced to make the same sacrifices that my sister and I made or that their grandmother made.”
A passion to help build a bright future for immigrants and their families drove Luz to join the Community Cafecitos. She has supported voter registration efforts and aspires to help individuals navigating the naturalization process.
“Many immigrants like my mother pay taxes but they can’t access Medicare or any other type of federal support,” said Luz.
According to the American Immigration Council, undocumented immigrants paid $651.9 billion in taxes in 2023. In Florida alone, they paid $49.8 billion.
“Immigrants don’t just contribute professionally or through manual labor,” she said. “We make contributions through our food, our music, and our cultures. Immigrants enrich this country in all ways.”
“Immigrants don’t just contribute professionally or through manual labor,” she said. “We make contributions through our food, our music, and our cultures. Immigrants enrich this country in all ways.”
When friends, neighbors, and loved ones have to hide who they are out of fear, we all lose out on the vibrancy they bring to our communities.
Increased nationwide enforcement and the erosion of legal protections have increased fear and anxiety within immigrant communities. In that time, Community Cafecitos has become even more essential as a space to find solidarity and cultivate hope.
Ricardo, 50, lives in Utah and works in construction to support his family. He joined the Community Cafecitos not only to share his story, but also to understand how to navigate the mental toll of being undocumented.
“I’m just trying to keep myself from falling into a dark place, you know?” shared Ricardo. “I know there are other people in the same situation that I can learn from. There has to be a little glimmer of hope to keep you on your feet — to keep you fighting for your dreams.”
“I’m just trying to keep myself from falling into a dark place, you know?” shared Ricardo. “I know there are other people in the same situation that I can learn from. There has to be a little glimmer of hope to keep you on your feet — to keep you fighting for your dreams.”
Community Cafecitos has partnered with a mental health provider to host bilingual sessions for participants.
“Our community doesn’t always have access to these resources,” Ingrid said. “We wanted to do something that would help them process and share how they’re feeling.”
Ricardo said a more welcoming and humane immigration system would mean finally having peace of mind, while giving families like his the stability they need to plan their futures.
“I would be able to visit my loved ones and continue pursuing more opportunities to succeed and to grow,” said Ricardo. “Immigrants make this country stronger.”
Looking ahead, Community Cafecitos aims to expand by providing participants with training to strengthen their organizing skills and empowering them to form groups of their own. As leaders, they can encourage more people to tell their stories and take action, whether it’s contacting their elected officials or sharing their voices online.
“Two years in, I’m really in awe of all the things that we’ve been able to accomplish, from providing training to sharing key resources,” Ingrid said. “We’ve been able to help people understand that they’re not alone, and that there’s always going to be a community out there for them.”
To receive more information about Community Cafecitos and an invitation to the next meeting, visit this page.