Turning election fear into immigrant power

I am a DACA recipient, one of 650,000 people who may be targeted when the Trump administration takes office. As an organizer with AFSC, I also work with young people and immigrant communities in New Jersey every day. I want to give you an idea of the work we are doing for welcoming, dignified, and just immigration policies. I also want to show you how much is possible when communities come together, especially in these difficult times.  

I came to the United States when I was 10 years old. I have lived in Red Bank, New Jersey for 20 years. Right now, there is no other place I would rather be than the American Friends Service Committee. It is a great privilege to be working in an office to protect my immediate community, just 15 minutes from where I live. It's beautiful to know that what I do helps make life better for my neighbors, my friends, my loved ones, and the entire state. 

Throughout its history, AFSC has played a pivotal role in supporting communities in moments like this. Our work has always been led by people who are directly impacted by the issues we’re addressing. Over the past six years, we have worked to push through some of the most progressive legislation on immigration in New Jersey to create systematic change. We helped pass a bill to grant access to driver's licenses for 800,000 immigrants. We successfully advocated for financial aid for undocumented youth. And we secured $35 million in the state budget to provide legal representation for people who need help with their immigration cases. Because of our collective efforts, New Jersey is now one of the most welcoming states in the country for immigrants.  

Supporting community members and young leaders 

In my role at AFSC, I do presentations nearly every week to communities—thousands of people a year—about their rights as immigrants so they can protect themselves and their families. Right now, we are coordinating a Know Your Rights resource in the state of New Jersey that will be distributed to schools, health care providers, consulates, and many other organizations that provide services to immigrants. 

We are also continuing to support young people as leaders in our communities. One of the most difficult days I’ve faced in my work was meeting with a student immigrant club the day after this election. I had a classroom packed with 30 young people who were nervous about what the next administration would bring. Some were directly impacted by immigration issues, others had a loved one impacted by these issues, and others just really cared about their neighbors.  

The one thing that always keeps me hopeful is that when you walk into those rooms, you can tell how much people want to do something. They want to hear what responsibilities they can take on to make a difference in these difficult times. 

Let me tell you about one young woman who embodies the change we're creating—one of AFSC’s organizing interns. I met her when she was 14, going through an incredibly difficult time because her family was directly impacted by immigration enforcement. I am very proud to tell you that not only is she organizing with AFSC now, but at 21, she also just became the youngest county committee person in Monmouth County.  

In the spring of next year, I will be taking 30 young people to Washington, D.C. to learn how to lobby so they can exercise democracy. Over the past four years, we have taken more than 100 young people on these visits. We are supporting the next generation of young leaders who understand that the social justice issues we face are collective issues—that our struggle and anyone else's struggle are all connected. 

From fear to resolve 

I understand the fears of these immigrant youth deeply. In 2016, during the first Trump administration, I was a senior in college. I thought the world was ending. I was about to graduate and thought that the DACA program would end, that I would never get a job, and that everything I had worked for would just disappear. Yet what should have been the worst four years of my life ended up being the most remarkable years. 

I ended up understanding what it means to be in a collective movement. I learned what it was like to not feel alone, and how empowering it feels to be part of an organization that shares my values and truly understands that it's all about dignity and respect for all people. 

The day after this year’s election, I sat on my back porch searching my feelings because I knew I had to meet with those young folks and speak publicly about what would come next. The first thing I realized was that I didn't feel the fear I had in 2016. I felt resolved. I felt ready. I walked into AFSC’s office the next day and told our staff: We were made for this moment. 

I am a firm believer in what America can be, and that everyday Americans are good people, because they've always done right by me and my family and my community. I'm a firm believer that we all have a responsibility to talk about immigration to others—and that we have to humanize how these policies affect so many people in our communities.   

We are in this together--that's not just a saying. Over the past six years, I have been moved by how many people in New Jersey and around the U.S. have shown up in support of immigrant communities to demand a more welcoming, dignified, and just system for all.  

The future we want to see is right around the corner. We just have to keep at it. Whoever gives up first loses, and I am not giving up. We will continue to support communities that are directly impacted so they can finally see the world that we all deserve to live in. 

Note: This article was adapted from Itzel’s remarks during the Nov. 12 webinar “From Election to Action.” Watch a video recording of the webinar.