By: Nicole Mejia, Every Vote Counts Campaign Volunteer
In less than one week, Delawareans across the state will head to the polls to cast their ballots for the issues that matter most. This election season, I’m voting to protect immigrants’ rights and push back against xenophobia.
I am proud to be a daughter of immigrants from Mexico. Year after year, I’ve watched my immigrant parents and family members contribute to our economy and volunteer in our community, their commitment to making a positive impact and giving back to the place they now call home rooted deeply within the values they instilled in me. I watched them find joy in sharing our rich cultural traditions and delicious food with our fellow Delawareans at community centers, schools, and local festivals and parades, a constant reminder to feel pride in my cultural heritage and celebrate my family’s history.
Growing up against a rich, multicultural backdrop made one thing very apparent — immigrants like my family are our neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and an integral part of our society. In Delaware, immigrants make up 10 percent of the population and 9 percent of Delawareans are U.S. Citizens with at least one immigrant parent. These individuals fulfill critical jobs from healthcare to agriculture, influence our vibrant social and dining scene, and make up 16 percent of Delaware’s self-employed population, strengthening our local economy through thriving small businesses. Most importantly, immigrants bring diverse perspectives and experiences that make our communities more inclusive, foster understanding and collaboration, and lead to better outcomes for everyone.
My personal background and experiences have reaffirmed that immigrant communities are not a monolith, and the barriers we face not isolated from the fight for other key civil rights and liberties. Our unique stories, struggles, and successes are all intertwined and intersect with movements for education equity, justice reform, reproductive freedom, and more.
This is why political attacks against immigrants must concern everyone and why this election season we must all be invested in the fight to protect immigrants’ rights. On Tuesday, November 5, I’m casting my vote for lawmakers that respect everyone’s rights, regardless of their immigration status, language, or country of origin. I’m voting for the 19,600 immigrants in Delaware and 11 million immigrants nationwide who cannot vote this election season.
But my vote is just the beginning. My advocacy for immigrants’ rights will not end on November 5 and neither should yours. The fight for immigrants' rights goes beyond one person, party, or side. Too often, politicians make campaign promises without meaningful action. Let’s use our votes and continued advocacy to send a message that immigrants’ rights are not up for debate, and we will hold elected officials accountable to our communities.
Learn more about where the candidates running in your district stand on issues like immigrants' rights at VoteDelaware.org.
