Immigration Mic

Welcome Janine Joseph - Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State and author of the award winning book “Driving Without A License” to Immigration MIC! In this interview, we go in-depth into Janine’s personal immigration story, and how her undocumented status inspires her work as part of Undocupoets, which includes:

In this episode you’ll learn about this resilient young woman’s journey, including:

Welcome Maria from Oregon to Immigration MIC! A DACA recipient from Mexico, currently residing in Oregon, and recently in DC advocating for DREAM Act Legislation - get to know this passionate young woman!

Welcome Daniel, the founder of ‘Faces Of DACA’ to this week’s Immigration MIC episode! In this episode you’ll hear: His experience immigrating from Mexico due to the increasing violence, and moving to California in 2004. How he learned about his immigration status: the story of how he could’t go with his class to Japan. How pre-DACA, Daniel felt the weight of hopelessness, but kept pushing himself until DACA became a reality. As a software engineer, the reasons why he finds joy in being a creative, and using that talent to help others, starting his career at Uber Eats. His reaction to the 2016 election, and the “tipping point” he experiences that led to the creation of Faces Of DACA, and getting candid about why he hadn’t going the fight beforehand. His work over the past months collecting stories from other DACA recipients, building connections and gathering stories, and how his team’s outreach is growing across the nation. His goal of returning in the future to his software engineer work, and how he eventu

Welcome Daysi from Oregon to Immigration MIC! Daysi came to the US from Mexico at 11 years old, and through her experiences as a DACA recipient, she has become a fighter and advocate for mental health. Her family had roots in the US, with her father working seasonally in California and Oregon, and traveling back to be with his family, eventually sending for their family to join him. Their family moved around quite a bit in Oregon, which Daysi recounts has given her the experience of interacting with different communities. Daysi was the salutatorian for her high school, being involved in sports, being passionate about history — graduating in 2012, DACA being announced a few months later. “I ended up having 2-3 jobs at a time, help my parents will the bills, I could drive, and I could go to college” — DACA had a huge impact on Daysi’s life, and she began paying to forward immediately, establishing an organization “United Undocumented Students” for DACA students, and allies, to be able to raise awareness in the

This week on Immigration MIC, we’re talking the ramifications of TPS potentially ending with Claudia, coming to us from VA! At six years old a massive earthquake in El Salvador occurred, which forced Claudia and her family to travel through the desert to the United States, arriving at the border as refugees. Because they were coming from El Salvador, one of the designated (Temporary Protection Status) countries, they were able to qualify for the program. Claudia breaks down the program, and notes how TPS may be ending for several countries by the administration - and has already been ended for Haiti. Claudia is working to turn her passion for poetry into a career in creative writing - she takes me through the origins of her interest in writing in her high school’s poetry club. “It was the idea that people would listen to me at open mics, that helped me find my voice”, initially working to advocate for the safety and empowerment of women. “Everything changed when I realized I just had a work permit” - a

“I would have gone anywhere with [my parents], which is why I was OK leaving El Salvador” This week on Immigration MIC, I speak with El Salvador native, Brooklyn transplant, now living in Long Island emerging immigration activist Brenda M! Brenda describes her personality as giving, wanting to put others before herself, something that is reflected in her mom’s decision to come to the US and work as an in-house nanny before sending for the rest of the family. She details her journey to the US, crossing the border at 7 years old, under the care of her father who hoisted her on his shoulders when she could no longer walk - all to find a better future. Arriving to Brooklyn, Brenda assimilated quickly, and speaks highly of all the diverse neighborhoods she grew up around. However, she began becoming knowledgeable of the limitations of her immigration status. When DACA was announced, it was her mom who helped her file, as she knew the importance of the opportunity that had been given to their family. In 2011, she m

“I was an intern for Marco Rubio’s office - once the staff found out I was a Dreamer, I was treated differently - not in a good way.” Welcome to Immigration MIC Danny K, a Syrian - Armenian DACA recipient who is currently enrolled in a master’s program in FL, and is an emerging hip-hop artist! Emigrating with a visa from Syria, Danny and his family originally arrived to Boston, and immediately moved to Florida because of the weather. “My mom just broke the news to me” - Danny confronted a harsh reality when wanting to find a job, and his hopes and dreams to be involved in the US political system changed immediately. Upon looking to attend college, he was told that no college would accept him, until a woman he met by chance told him about attending community college. DACA = salvation, and it gave me a future, according to Danny. From there, he worked at a gift shop at Cirque Du Solei, and eventually had a chance to intern at Marco Rubio’s office - which he enjoyed initially. Somehow, someone in the office foun

On this Immigration MIC episode we have Genesis speaking to us about her personal story/experiences from Arizona! Genesis’ older brother was an organizer for the initial DREAM Act - her story is unconventional, given that since she was 10, she had always wanted to pursue a career in law, and after her brother was mistreated at the hands of police officers, Genesis decided to become involved fully in the immigration movement. She opens up about having been discouraged in high school, letting her grades drop, but the passage of DACA being a turning point in helping her return to school, and continue pursuing her education. Her work in Arizona along other activists is applauded nationally as ‘veterans of the movement’ because of laws like SB1070, - she talks to us about the ousting of Joe Arpaio, what the moment meant, and what it was like as they also were dealing with the news of Trump’s election. She also celebrates seeing her counterparts running for office and getting elected in local AZ communities. The cu

This week, welcome Allison to Immigration MIC! A Long Islander, originally from Guatemala, artist (anime and manga fan), a college student, and an emerging immigration advocate, she has her hands full and she’s full of passion and ambition! Allison came to the US at 14 and grew up in Hempstead and praises the educational system there - she also gives insight to the violence that is dealt with within the schools at the same time. “When I came here, I immediately started making my roots here - but it’s harder for a lot of other people” - Allison is grateful to be making her inroads into the US, trying out various career paths, and finding her way. She is passionate about bringing up to date immigration information to folks that may not have time to attend meetings, acting as an ambassador to community members who have parental responsibilities. “Right now, the most important thing our community should know - its your rights.” Currently Allison is working to create awareness for the immigration issue, taking the

This week on Immigration MIC, I talk with Mballa: Cameroon born, DC - based recording artist, who recently was able to adjust her undocumented status after a lifetime of being in and out of status. “I had a legendary father” - Before his passing, Mballa’s father used to be Cameroon's ambassador (also worked in Senegal, Russia, DRC) to the US for 15 years, and when he returned home to Cameroon, he was arrested without charges and was held for two years, due to political rivals’ fear he would be a successor to the presidency. The story goes so much deeper, which you’ll be able to hear within the interview. Mballa moved to North Carolina for college, but began pursuing a career in the music industry as a manager, but decided to chase her own dream after her dad’s passing: since it was her biggest fear, and having survived cancer at 13, she found she had nothing left to fear. Growing up she had a visa, and had diplomatic immunity, but her father would tell her and her siblings “this is not your country and their

On the Season 3 premiere of Immigration MIC, from Stamford, Connecticut (and yes, she’s met Triple H), welcome Aubrey to our show! Aubrey, from Ecuador is formerly “DACAmented” - she recently adjusted her status, but continues the fight for her community, which she has been involved in since high school. Growing up, she focused on studying, believing that through studying she wouldn’t need to worry about being undocumented (she was aware since third grade). She became heavily involved in advocacy in high school with a negative experience with a lawyer that “made things difficult” for her family, and claimed to have filed paperwork for Audrey that was non-existent. Audrey is a super talented poet and writer - we talk about two poems that caught my eye. One was about her confronting ICE through her words “the blood is on their hands, I’m not exaggerating”, and the second one “Alien Child” was about having others recognizing the humanity of immigrants. She recently also wrote an article that was a tribute to her

From One Mistake: THE MIXTAPE by Hendel Leiva

Mixtape Announcement (From One Mistake Documentary) by Hendel Leiva

She’s an entrepreneur, advocating for the empowerment through our communities through financial literacy, welcome Natalie to this week’s Immigration MIC! Born in El Salvador and raised in Inglewood, Natalie takes me through the story of how her family fled El Salvador during the civil war, and grew up in a neighborhood that surrounded by family in California. This all changed during the LA Riots, which provided her with a first person, eye opening perspective on police brutality and race relations, and how her neighborhood permanently changed as a result. “That happens all the time, it’s just the first time they caught it on video.” The riots changed Natalie’s upbringing as well - she was placed in private school, and she describes to me the shift from public school to an environment where she was one of the only Latinas. “I’ve always been fascinated with the behavior of people and money, that’s why I was a business major.” From cheerleading, to student council, dance, college, running a non-profit (prom dres

Welcome former Maryland DREAM Act organizer, Immigrant Justice Corp Fellow, and immigration paralegal, welcome Mayra to this week’s Immigration MIC! Extremely accomplished - in this conversation we bring it back to the basics: Mayra tells me about growing up on the eastern shore of Maryland up until college, how as a senior in high school how her family lost status, and how through her best friend she discovered activism and organizing. ***IMPORTANT: Mayra resisted for a long time in her activism, taking about a year to become heavily involved, because of constant affirmation from the people around her. International Studies and Conflict Analysis, to being almost done with her fellowship to pursuing a degree in law school, Mayra takes me through her path and journey in her career, from initially not knowing where her future was headed. “The worst was during the election” she tells me about the need to create a space for herself outside of the immigration world, especially after speaking with panicking clients

On the need for responsible journalism as people are making second to second decisions about their futures.

On the 5th anniversary of DACA, welcome Karla S. to the #ImmigrationMIC! A CUNY student currently studying PR and marketing, Karla was brought to the US at two months old from Mexico, and it is her dream to one day be able to visit her homeland. “It was never the plan to come to the US and stay forever” - Karla’s parents decided the family would stay once the family was established. Although being a DACA recipient has been challenging at times, Karla has used her experiences to push herself to accomplish her goals. Growing up in Flushing, Karla didn’t grow up exposed to the Latin culture, and because her friends weren’t in those conversations, she saw her status as something she didn’t need to worry about on a day to day basis. We talk about her navigation through the college system, which has taken a few turns, how she’s needed to pay her tuition out of pocket, and how she wishes there was more resources for students within the CUNY system. This is a **** great moment **** - Karla gets real when talking abou

On the Immigration MIC this week we have Alyssa who is an immigration paralegal and aspiring attorney, who actually contacted me about an important story she needed to share. Alyssa an immigrant herself of Cuban and Tunisian descent, born in Tunisia and arrived in the US at a year old, but she identifies strongest as Cuban from Queens. Though she wasn’t able to be a part of the island because of the strict travel laws, she experienced her culture through music and food. “I was born an American citizen, away” - Alyssa’s mother came to the US as a political refugee and as a result, Alyssa became an automatic citizen, and growing up, she absorbed Latin culture from all the different people around her. While in college and majoring in Latin American studies and communications, and through volunteer work, Alyssa’s world began to take shape as she began seeing demographic patters through a national and international lens. Since college, she’s travelled all over; she cites Morocco as the most eye opening experience

Traveling, Immigration, and a shared love for the Guatemalan culture, we have it all this week with Joy Valerie of Part Time Exploradora on this week’s episode of Immigration MIC! Her parents immigration from Guatemala, and growing up in Ozone Park NY, Valerie grew up with a mixed identity - starting with her story of her name. Valerie takes me through her journey growing up in Queens, moving to Sufferen, and eventually going to RIT - all while working to understand her identity growing up as a Guatemalan-American in these different settings. Having attended engineering school, working with AmeriCorps (where she worked with children who had recently been detained at the border), to her current projects, Valerie is constantly innovating and working to open doors for herself. Over the past five years, she’s traveled to twenty countries, which she frequently documents through her social media, which is a combination of traveling advice, photography, and social analysis through her own unique lens. She opens up a