Mientras los miembros del Congreso y los candidatos presidenciales luchan por la migración, un grupo de líderes y expertos de Nevada dedicados a promover la reforma migratoria están discutiendo las complejidades y desafíos del tema, tratando de centrarse en soluciones viables.

Zach Mueller es director político de la organización sin fines de lucro nonprofit America's Voice. Advierte a los votantes de Nevada que, durante el próximo ciclo electoral, sospecha que habrá mucha desinformación sobre los migrantes y la migración.

"Pero muchas veces, la gente que perpetua ese tipo de desinformación no solo habla de migrantes, no solo habla de políticas de migración," asegura Mueller. "Sino que es un mecanismo y una herramienta para intentar dividir en torno a preocupaciones por la seguridad, la identidad, y la escasez."

Mueller afirma que está bien discrepar sobre cuál debe ser la política adecuada en materia de migración, pero anima a los políticos y candidatos de ambos bandos a utilizar sus palabras con prudencia y no incitar a la violencia política.

Según una encuesta reciente, el 42% de los estadounidenses, incluido el 72% de los republicanos, opinan que Estados Unidos es "demasiado abierto" y corre el riesgo de "perder su identidad".

El senador demócrata de Nevada Edgar Flores dice que considera importante no sólo involucrar y empoderar a los votantes migrantes y minoritarios en estas elecciones, sino también animar a los responsables políticos a seguir defendiendo lo que él denomina legislación "pro-migrante", aunque no se apruebe.

"Por mucho que escuchemos esa retorica horrible, esa retorica racista que sabemos que no va a llegar a ninguna parte, pero eso es lo que estamos escuchando. ¿Dónde está la otra cara de la moneda? Incluso si tememos que no vamos a avanzar en la legislación, proponerla constantemente, de modo que la retórica sea: 'Hay gente aquí que constantemente está tratando de avanzar... aunque sea solo un milímetro'."

Casi el 20% de la población de Nevada ha nacido en el extranjero, según el Consejo Americano de Migración. Entre ellos hay más de 300,000 migrantes con derecho al voto, una cifra que se espera que aumente en la próxima década.



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Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a recent, controversial Texas law.

Senate File 2340 gives local law enforcement officers and judges the authority to deport undocumented immigrants.

Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, argued the bill is an overreach, and said Iowa law enforcement officers are not authorized to enforce it.

"This is a pretty clear intervention into federal territory," Johnson pointed out. "U.S. immigration law is governed by federal law."

Much like the author of the Texas bill, supporters in Iowa blame the Biden administration for failing to slow illegal immigration, so the state has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Johnson contended the bill and other anti-immigrant sentiment during the just-completed legislative session target the very people Iowa, with its dwindling population, will depend on for its future workforce.

"What we need is communities that are safe, where workers have access to dignified, safe workplaces," Johnson emphasized. "The truth of what Iowa's future could be depends on immigrants and immigrant workers in our state, and unfortunately, this law could take us back, away from that possible future. "

Johnson added her organization will pursue legal ways to block the bill from taking effect in July.


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The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing the border. But groups are speaking out about the impact of "Operation Lone Star" on the youngest migrants. Governor Greg Abbott continues to bus migrant families to other states, many with young children - more than 100,000 families so far.

Robert Sanborn, CEO of Children at Risk, works to improve the quality of life for boys and girls in Texas, and contends the policy has put trauma on top of trauma.

"We never want children to be political pawns. We don't want maximum chaos on the backs of children. We want children to grow up and be assets for our community," he contended.

Sanborn points out that 2.2 million children in Texas are immigrants, and said it would be less stressful for kids if families were not bused in the middle of the night, and if they were allowed to pick their destination.

When immigrants arrive at the border, they are evaluated to determine if they're eligible for asylum.

Beatriz Zavala, clinical coordinator at El Paso-based Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health, or "HOME," said the children in this situation are at higher risk for mental health disorders.

"What is particularly troubling is the profound disregard for the stability and protection these families need. The impact on their mental health is undeniable. These are not just statistics. These are children, real children," she said.

As part of Operation Lone Star, families have been bused to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The governor has said the practice is needed to keep the Texas-Mexico border safe.


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Legislation in Albany would create the first right to counsel for people in immigration court.

The Access to Representation Act would provide immigrants the right to an attorney in their New York immigration cases, ending the tendency to represent themselves if they cannot afford one.

Estimates show a backlog of more than 330,000 immigration court cases, and fewer than half have attorneys. Studies show without legal counsel, migrants are less likely to remain in the U.S.

Marlene Galaz, director of immigrant rights policy for the New York Immigration Coalition, described what the bill would do.

"It has a six-year ramp-up to start implementing and building infrastructure," Galaz outlined. "Having a pipeline between law schools for law students to go into immigration practice, and getting to nonprofits and so on."

Galaz noted most opposition centers around the $150 million to fund the program but pointed out the total expenditure is less than 1% of the state's $229 billion budget. She added anti-immigrant rhetoric has also damaged support for the bill. Currently, it is in the state Senate Finance Committee.

The New York City Comptroller's office said enacting the bill would benefit the state financially. It could keep about 53,000 people from being deported, which would result in almost $8.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes over the next 30 years.

Galaz emphasized the influx of migrants has saturated the court system, leading to what could have been an avoidable backlog.

"I firmly believe that if these investments had been made when we first asked for them, I believe, like, three years ago, then we wouldn't be struggling," Galaz contended. "We would have had the infrastructure built to address an increase in welcoming our newest neighbors."

A Vera Institute survey showed 93% of New Yorkers across party lines and regions support access to attorneys for all people, including those in immigration court, and government-funded attorneys for them.


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