Hi there! A quick update on my summer plans and an important discussion on the political discourse at the moment.

I will be spending this summer once again in Washington, DC, working with the National Immigration Forum as the Field & Constituencies Intern. The Forum is an immigrant advocacy nonprofit group that “builds trusted relationships across the political spectrum to convene different perspectives” on the advancement and development of immigration policies. The organization brings various constituents, including law enforcement, faith leaders, and businesses, together to discuss commonsense immigration reform.
As someone who has gained a personal interest in immigration justice and reform, this internship is an opportunity to provide me with firsthand experience working on immigration policies with various advocacy groups across the country. As part of the Field & Constituencies team, I will continue to conduct research, connect with constituents, create blog posts, and monitor immigration policy.

On another note, as I take on this internship, it’s important to remember we are living in a time when immigration has become a central aspect of the country’s political identity. It is a debate that is often weaponized and utilized during election cycles through misleading and dehumanizing public discourse. From rhetoric surrounding “border security”, the criminalization of immigration, and the often ignored economic contributions of immigrants to entire industry sectors, immigration is complex and deserves to be discussed with facts.

So here are a few facts and data points to remind yourself when discussing immigration and when listening to others:

• As of April 2025, there are over 3.5 million pending immigration cases, leading to months and years for someone to hear their case in front of a judge.
• Over 11 million undocumented migrants are living in the US, many of whom contribute to our economy and our communities.
• Immigrants pay billions in taxes each year, including undocumented immigrants who paid a sum total of $89.8 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2023.
• Immigrants are essential for a strong economy and thriving innovation, with almost 1 in 4 entrepreneurs being immigrants, and 46 percent of the Fortune 500 companies being founded by immigrants or their children. 
• Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native born US citizens, in fact, native born citizens have nearly twice the crime rate per 100,000 as undocumented immigrants.

As immigration continues to dominate the news cycle, we are faced with a choice to either let fear and misinformation dictate our lives or stand up for a future where immigration is met with respect, dignity, and justice. This internship, in a way, is a chance to contribute to the national dialogue at a time when immigration has become so contentious and misunderstood in the United States. Especially in a time when we need to shape the discourse on immigration reform.

For now, I leave you with a few resources to stay informed:

American Immigration Council
Center for Migration Studies
Migration Policy Institute
National Immigration Forum
Including their partners: the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force and the Council on National Security and Immigration