Yeslin L.D., Finalist in the Human Rights Category

This letter features reporting from “Under New Strategy, US Flies Deportees to Southern Tip of Mexico” by Daniel Gonzalez

Dear Representative Maria Elvira Salazar,

I’m writing this letter to you about something that affects families in my community and millions across the country: deportation, and how it tears families apart. Immigration isn’t just a debate about borders, it's a global issue about human rights and the hope for a better life. People cross the U.S borders to escape poverty, violence, and fear, but they often face another kind of fear and uncertainty once they arrive: being detained or deported.

In an article called “Under New Strategy, US Flies Deportees to Southern Tip of Mexico,” supported by the Pulitzer Center and written by Daniel Gonzalez, it is reported that of the nearly 60,000 immigrants in U.S. immigration detention in late September, over 70% had no criminal records. That means most of the people being held at detention centers aren’t dangerous nor criminals. These individuals are hardworking parents, family members, and neighbors who are just trying to live the American dream. Deporting them doesn’t make America safer, it just breaks families and communities apart.

I know this pain personally. My father was detained by ICE on his way to work, yet no crime was committed. My siblings and I were devastated. Thinking about him locked away, and not being able to come home, made me bawl my eyes out. My younger siblings kept asking where he was and when he was coming home, and I didn’t know what to tell them without making them more scared. I had to help my mom a lot more, it felt like I had to step into a parent role even though I’m still a kid myself. None of the opportunities my siblings and I have today would even be possible without the sweat, hard work, tears, and sacrifice my parents went through when they crossed the border. My dad is such a hard-working man. He came from nothing, started a business, and built a life for us. In Homestead and Florida City, stories like mine aren’t rare. Families live with constant fear that someone they love could be taken away at any moment. No child should feel the pain of a parent being taken away.

In my community, I’ve seen ICE stop people without asking if they have a license or residency card. Some of them actually have legal status or work permits, but they’re still treated like criminals. How is deporting innocent people who work hard and pay taxes making America any better? I’ve known people who were taken even though they had valid licenses and the right to work here. That isn’t confusion or a mistake, that’s discrimination. When the main provider of a household is taken, the entire family is in financial stress. No one should live in that kind of fear, especially in a place they’ve called home for decades.

What makes it worse is that immigrants are a big part of what keeps our country strong. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s report, undocumented immigrants paid about $96.7 billion in taxes in 2022. They work hard, pay taxes, and help our communities grow, yet they’re treated like criminals. It’s just so unfair. It turns the American dream into a nightmare where stability can disappear in an instant. The decisions the U.S. makes about immigration will shape how other countries treat migrants, influence global human rights policies, and affect the movement of families across entire regions of the world.

That’s why I respect your work on the Dignity Act, because it recognizes that immigrants deserve a chance to live and work here legally. However, another way to make this system fairer is to make immigration laws clearer and more accessible. Many migrants truly want to follow the law, but the process is complicated and very slow. Currently, people wait years for documents, hearings, or updates. I’m asking you to support reforms that expand access to work permits, speed up court and processing times, and also create a system that actually gives families who built their lives here a reliable way to stay together. Increased funding for legal assistance programs would enable families to understand the process and follow the law. It's important to end unnecessary detentions for individuals who pose no threat and have no criminal history.

Representative Salazar, I’m asking you to keep fighting for families like mine. Behind every immigration case is a child crying at night and a parent missing at the table. I have seen immigration issues tear families apart and leave children scared. I am proud to be the child of undocumented immigrants. We just want the chance to live without fear, and you have the power to make that possible. I believe you can.

Thank you for listening and for standing up for the people who want to live a better life.

Sincerely,
Yeslin

Yeslin is a leader within the journalism program at her school in Homestead, Florida. Yeslin enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and friends, reading, and loves helping others and giving people advice anytime.

Growing up, her experiences have shaped her deep interest in human rights and social justice. She loves learning new things every day and expanding her knowledge about the world. Writing is her greatest passion, especially if it’s something she loves and is passionate about. This letter is especially close to her heart, as it allows her to express what truly matters to her. Coming from undocumented parents who courageously sought a better life by leaving a place with limited opportunities has been one of the greatest gifts her parents could have given her. Yeslin leads by example, inspiring others through compassion, resilience, and humility.

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