A Journey of Resilience and Esperanza: Why We Must Stand for Migrant Justice

By Eddie Chavez Calderon

When I was a child, no more than four years old, I came to the United States, hand-in-hand with my mother. We were in search of safety and the hope of a better life. But from the moment we crossed the border, that idealistic hope was met with real fear. We were detained, confined in a detention center, a place I still remember all too clearly. For many migrants, myself included, the journey to freedom and safety is filled with obstacles, some of which feel insurmountable.

Over the years, I have committed myself to championing the rights of migrants—individuals like my mother and myself who seek the opportunity to live free from fear. As an advocate for migrant rights, I have seen firsthand how reactionary anti-immigration legislation denies countless individuals the chance to pursue a lawful path to become citizens. And for many years, I, along with so many others, endeavored to adhere to every regulation and navigate every obstacle. However, the journey to citizenship has increasingly become a constricted one, filled with barriers intended to exclude people like me.

Recently, after more than a decade of uncertainty, my U Visa (A U visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse. It provides legal status and work authorization in the United States, with the possibility of applying for permanent residency after three years). For the first time, perhaps since I was a young child, I feel a real sense of safety. But I know that there are countless others who continue to live in the shadows, who fear each knock on the door, each interaction, every law that threatens their right to exist in this country. I know all too well that the struggle for safety and dignity remains urgent.

In Arizona, a border state that often dabbles in xenophobic activity, we are currently witness to  the disturbing rise in a white Christian nationalism that pushes anti-immigrant laws with the only purpose to dehumanize migrants and strip them of their dignity. These narratives are dangerous, not only because they feed into fear and division, but because they misrepresent the values many Americans hold dear. America, at its best, is a nation of opportunity, empathy, and justice. We cannot turn a blind eye to this rising tide of hatred. 

We must stand against it.

My passion for social justice and my Jewish ethics inspire me to continue this yearning for freedom and dignity for all. Judaism teaches us to welcome the stranger, to remember our own struggles, and to act with humility in the face of great challenges. These values–these ideals–are my guide, along with the memory of my dear abuela, who taught me to lead with love. Though she can no longer be physically present to stand with me in this journey towards justice, her resilience, her kindness, and her strength inspire me every day to keep going, to keep fighting, and, most importantly, to keep hoping.

In this pivotal moment, I ask you to join me: Be an advocate for migrant justice. Speak out against laws that strip people of their dignity. Dare to confront the narratives that promote irrational fear instead of understanding. We have the moral obligation to push back against systemic oppression that harms our communities. Together, we can build a nation that lives up to its precepts—a country that welcomes and values diversity, compassion, and justice for all.