Welcome to El Pueblo Dice, a weekly breakdown of the most popular immigration headlines about the Rio Grande Valley.

El Pueblo Dice tracks what officials in power are doing to protect immigrants and demilitarize the Texas/Mexico border. We’ll shine a light on the successes and failures of all elected officials— from our city commissioners, to the Texas legislature, all the way to the White House.

This week, El Pueblo Dice... this is why the RGV needs a pathway to Citizenship.

Transcript of episode: The Rio Grande Valley is home to many amazing people, families, culture, and immigrants. From elotes, the paletero, to the pulga, there’s definitely something that we all know and love. So when we think of the valley it’s not only the food but the people that make the community special. We all know someone who is an immigrant and has fought and worked tirelessly to give their families a better life. But this American dream that we are so often told is the land of opportunity is not the reality for many people. 

Many immigrants are so often stripped of their rights, basic necessities, and access to things like healthcare, education, and proper living wages. That is why it’s critical that we organize and fight for the rights of our communities. We Are Home is a national campaign that prioritizes and demands a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America; a moratorium and overhaul of interior enforcement; and broad affirmative relief from deportation. 

During this pandemic farm workers fed and cared for the people of this country and yet, we still do not see the proper care and support that they need for their livelihood. They work through heat, cold, wildfires, and many natural disasters and they are constantly working in terrible working conditions that are detrimental to their physical and mental health. The Farmworkforce Modernization Act aims to provide a path to legal status for farmworkers and updating and streamlining the H-2A temporary worker visa program while ensuring fair wages and working conditions for all workers. 

Join us in the fight for immigration reform and if you would like to get involved, we have now launched our online membership!

El Pueblo Dice is created by La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE). For press or general inquiries, contact johnmichael@lupenet.org and danim@lupenet.org.