Raíces y Ritmos: Stories of Heritage and Change

By Rodney Feliciano AI created image I magine getting a letter in the mail that says you’re being deported or log into an app. You’ve lived here for years. You work hard, pay your taxes, and your kids go to school down the street. But suddenly, the system tells you, you don’t belong. It sounds like something that shouldn’t happen, but it does. For many in our Hispanic communities, especially those with complicated immigration histories or mixed-status families, the threat of deportation isn’t always about criminal acts or undocumented status. Sometimes, it’s about clerical errors, outdated systems, or agencies not talking to each other. And when the system gets it wrong, people’s lives are flipped upside down.   When the Paperwork Doesn’t Match the Person   O ne of the biggest issues is how immigration enforcement can misinterpret records. Maybe someone was born in the U.S., but their name appears on an outdated list. Or maybe someone applied for citizenship and it’s pend...

  (Paul Sancya/AP Photo) Republican National Convention, July 2024 Trump’s Executive Orders on Immigration: Where Does This Leave Us? Once again, immigration is front and center in our national conversations, thanks to a fresh batch of executive orders from President Donald Trump. His administration seems determined to reignite debates around border security, and even birthright citizenship. But what do these changes really mean for us? Let’s break it down. Birthright Citizenship Under Fire One of the most talked-about moves is Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship. For those of us scratching our heads, this challenges a principle that’s been in place since the 14th Amendment was ratified. If you’re born on U.S. soil, you’re a U.S. citizen, no matter your parents’ immigration status. Now, this executive order zeroes in on children born to undocumented immigrants, sparking heated legal debates. Experts say this won’t be resolved without significant courtroom battles and i...