Stories
Despite Legal Status, Fear of Forced Return to Mexico for a Dedicated Austin Teacher
When Areli Zarate crossed the border from Mexico at the age of eight, she was with her three brothers, the oldest of whom was nine. They didn’t have any adults with them—their parents were already in the United States—but the four knew that their lives were changing forever. Sixteen years… Read More
For One Young Woman, It Took Becoming a Crime Victim to Get a Green Card
Alina Luna had the grades and the drive to attend college right after high school, but she didn’t have a Social Security Number. As an undocumented immigrant who came to Atlanta from Mexico at the age of 12, she wasn’t allowed to apply for federal financial aid without it. Luna… Read More
Removing Barriers to Higher Education: The Economic Benefit of Tuition Opportunity in Tennessee
In 2014, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam launched the “Drive to 55,” an ambitious initiative designed to promote economic development and reduce unemployment by equipping fifty-five percent of state residents with a college degree or certificate by 2025. Tennessee stands to benefit from adding thousands of potential college graduates to this… Read More
Arizona City Council Member: “America Needs the Passion, Skills, and Experience of DREAMers”
Today, Lorenzo Sierra is a city council representative of Avondale, Arizona, a diverse city of 80,000 people. He also works with the next generation of underprivileged Hispanic kids to help them achieve. It’s a mission that stems from his background: Sierra grew up in a poor Tucson neighborhood… Read More
Serial Entrepreneur and Ethiopian Refugee Reminds Everyone: Immigrants ‘Work Hard and Play by the Rules’
When Fasil Muche was in high school, he received a letter telling him he was about to be deported back to his native Ethiopia. It turned out the letter was a mistake, but the emotional upheaval shaped Muche’s views on undocumented immigrants. He wishes no one had to live with… Read More
Nonprofit’s Director Says Immigration Policy Causing Health Care Crisis for Legal Immigrants in Utah
When Luis Garza came to the United States from Mexico as a senior in high school, his biggest struggle was navigating the country’s health care system. He was able to get a green card without much trouble—his mother was a U.S. citizen—but his lack of English fluency and… Read More
From Political Asylee to Employer — Colombian Immigrant Believes ‘You Have To Do Things in the Right Way’
Diva Herazo knows the value of good medical care. Originally from Colombia, she and her family were in the United States, in the process of applying for political asylum, when her daughter became ill. “She was born with just one kidney, and she got an infection and needed surgery while… Read More
Texas Economy Would Collapse if Immigrants Left,’ Says U.S. Businessman
As a businessman and humanitarian, John Kafka sees a dire need for immigration reform. As CEO of Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, a Houston-based company with 700 employees, he struggles to find and maintain a dedicated, legal workforce. As board chair of Catholic Charities in Houston, he has watched immigrants… Read More
Immigrants Are to Thank for San Antonio’s Dynamic Business Growth Says Chamber of Commerce Chair
“I’m one of three doctors in my family,” says Dr. Esteban Lopez. “Well, we like to joke that we have two real doctors and then a dentist.” The internist and pediatrician comes from a family of six children, all of whom have at least an undergraduate education. It’s a fact… Read More
Contractor Sees Firsthand How Draconian Immigrant Laws Hurt Arizona’s Economy
In 2012, Luis de la Cruz was at a banquet in Washington, D.C., being held to recognize minority-owned businesses. But when guests learned that he was from Arizona, they walked away in disgust. The state’s recently enacted anti-immigration bill had poisoned his reputation. “The only thing that happens” when… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
