How we enforce immigration laws has lasting impacts on families

How we enforce immigration laws has lasting impacts on families

One in 10 children in California has at least one immigrant parent. I was one of those kids. I grew up in a home shaped by both hope and uncertainty. My father lived his entire life undocumented, right up until the day he passed. He wanted a better life for us, but at that time, there was no viable legal path for him to gain legal status. Even though, as an adult and a legal professional, I became familiar with immigration laws and had access to…

How we discuss and enforce immigration laws has lasting impacts on California families

Guest Commentary written by Carielle Escalante Carielle Escalante is an advocate for survivors of gender-based violence. A Public Voices fellow with The OpEd Project, she has over 10 years of experience working to ensure equitable access to services for marginalized communities. One in 10 children in California has at least one immigrant parent. I was one of those kids.  I grew up in a home shaped by both hope and uncertainty. My father lived h…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that there are 2.4 million agricultural workers in the country, 42% of whom are undocumented migrants. However, in recent months, the outlook for these peasants has changed with recent migration measures. “For us, there are almost no workers and we are the ones doing the heaviest work,” says Margarito Jiménez, an immigrant from Zapotlanejo (Jalisco), who works in the fields of cultivation in the Inlan…

As of June 2025, California families with school-age children will be able to access the SUN Bucks program, a state-run initiative that provides $120 retail for food purchases during the summer. This benefit in the United States seeks to ensure food security for more than four million children in the state during the months when schools are closed and no free meals are offered. YOU CAN SEE: URGENT: They withdraw bread all over the country for gl…