Every June, we recognize Immigrant Heritage Month—a time to celebrate the richness that immigrants bring to our nation. But this year, the celebration comes amid intensifying immigration policies, rising public awareness, and a groundswell of community action. Across the country, immigrant communities are not only fighting for recognition—they’re fighting for their rights, safety, and dignity. In the face of harsh enforcement policies and divisive rhetoric, the stakes have never been higher.
At D&A Communications, we see equity-centered community engagement not just as an approach—but as an essential force for meaningful change. During this month of reflection and celebration, we recommit to uplifting immigrant voices and advocating for policies rooted in justice, not fear.
This Year, Celebration Is Resistance
From coast to coast, stories of courage and resilience are taking center stage. Yet they unfold against a backdrop of injustice that demands attention.
Los Angeles: Protest in the Face of Fear
In early June, Los Angeles erupted in protest after a wave of coordinated ICE raids swept through working-class neighborhoods. Dozens were detained in broad daylight—at job sites, swap meets, and grocery stores. The response was immediate: tens of thousands flooded the streets, calling out state violence and demanding humane immigration policies.
The city, now spending nearly $20 million to manage the fallout, has become a national flashpoint. Military vehicles line the streets. Helicopters circle overhead. What began as community defense is now being met with militarized resistance.
And yet, the people persist.
New York City: An Arrest That Shocked a Nation
On June 17, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a known advocate for immigrant rights, was arrested by ICE and FBI agents after attempting to accompany a constituent to an immigration hearing. The incident was both chilling and clarifying: even those in power who dare to stand beside immigrants are being targeted.
These moments aren’t anomalies—they’re symptoms of a deeper crisis.
Spotlight on Immigrant Justice Leaders
As we push back against anti-immigrant systems, it’s important to celebrate those who lead with courage, compassion, and conviction.
Zahra Billoo – Bay Area Defender of Muslim Immigrant Rights
Based in San Francisco, Zahra Billoo is a civil rights attorney and Executive Director of CAIR-SFBA (Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area). A daughter of immigrants from Pakistan, Zahra has spent over a decade fighting for the rights of Muslim immigrants, refugees, and communities of color.
From challenging the Muslim Ban to providing legal defense for airport detentions and ICE raids, Zahra’s work has fortified the Bay Area as a national model for immigrant protection, sanctuary, and civic solidarity. Her fierce advocacy and intersectional approach make her one of the most respected civil rights leaders in the region.
Cristina Jiménez Moreta – National Voice for Immigrant Youth
Born in Ecuador and once undocumented herself, Cristina Jiménez Moreta co-founded United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led network in the country. She was instrumental in shaping the movement that led to the creation of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
Cristina’s leadership empowered thousands of young people to find their voices, fight deportation, and win policy victories. Her work is a reminder that immigrant-led movements are not just fighting for rights—they’re transforming the future.
The Bay Area: A Living Model of Inclusion
While much of the country struggles to protect immigrant rights, the Bay Area continues to serve as a powerful counter-narrative—proof that diversity is strength.
Immigrants are the lifeblood of this region. In 2023, California contributed 14% of the national GDP, with the Bay Area leading the state in growth and innovation. Per capita income in the region reached $131,000—twice that of other California regions—driven by immigrant-led industries like professional services and information technology.
But the region’s strength isn’t just economic. It’s cultural.
- San Francisco’s Chinatown—the oldest in North America—remains a vibrant center of Chinese American life.
- San Jose’s Little Saigon is rich in Vietnamese heritage, activism, and cuisine.
- The Mission District in San Francisco proudly displays Latino culture through murals, taquerias, and community centers.
- Oakland’s multicultural neighborhoods reflect a global mosaic—spanning Eritrea,El Salvador,Yemen and beyond.
Immigrants have shaped every facet of the Bay’s identity—from tech startups and healthcare to food, art, and music. Their impact is not theoretical. It’s visible, daily, and essential.
The Bigger Picture: A Global Call for Compassion
Globally, over 110 million people have been displaced due to war, climate change, and economic instability. And yet, U.S. policies often respond not with welcome, but with walls—literal and bureaucratic.
Family separation, indefinite detention, stalled asylum claims, and mass deportations continue to scar lives. These policies betray the ideals of a nation built by immigrants. They reflect fear, not freedom.
D&A’s commitment to immigrant justice is not just professional—it’s deeply personal. One of our team members is an immigrant from Cameroon, a country now fractured by a violent civil war—rooted in decades of systemic marginalization of the English-speaking regions. This conflict has displaced over 500,000 people internally, and tens of thousands have fled to the United States seeking refuge. Under the Biden administration, many Cameroonians,including members of our team member’s family were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a policy that offered a rare sense of security amid the chaos back home. However, that sense of safety is now under threat. TPS has been terminated under the Trump administration’s broader effort to roll back humanitarian protections, and now, several of their loved ones face uncertainty once again.
This fear is no longer distant—it has become part of their everyday lives. It’s the quiet hesitation before stepping outside for work or dropping a child off at school. The sound of sirens or a knock at the door triggers a fear that an ICE raid could instantly shatter what little stability remains. Even moments of joy are not immune. As this team member recently celebrated their wedding, their family was not overcome with excitement, but with anxiety—worried that they might be detained at the airport due to increased scrutiny and background checks. What should have been a joyous reunion became a source of stress, uncertainty, and fear.
To make matters worse, in June 2025—Cameroon was included among 36 countries the Trump administration is reportedly considering adding to its travel ban, a deeply isolating policy that would further restrict reunification and travel opportunities for families like mine.
This story is not unique. Families from Sudan, Haiti, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and many other countries are grappling with similar policy reversals. Many have spent years building lives in the United States—working, paying taxes, raising children—only to now face the looming possibility of deportation back to instability and danger. The psychological toll is immense. D&A has witnessed firsthand how legal limbo impacts families’ mental health, livelihoods, and children’s sense of safety. It is not just painful—it is profoundly unjust.
If we are to meet this moment, we must move beyond enforcement and toward empathy. Beyond surveillance, toward support. These are not just policy decisions—they are life-altering realities for millions of families, and we must demand better.
Conclusion: Building a Future of Belonging
Immigration Heritage Month is about more than looking back. It’s about fighting forward.
It’s about the protesters in Los Angeles who refuse to be silent. It’s about civic leaders in New York who won’t stand down. It’s about the small business owners in Oakland and the community chefs in San Jose whose contributions shape our everyday lives.
It’s about policy. It’s about power. It’s about people.
At D&A Communications, we remain unwavering in our belief that every immigrant story is American history—and every voice deserves to be heard, protected, and celebrated. Our diversity is our strength, and our shared values drive the work we do every day to build a more inclusive future. We don’t just work with immigrant communities—we are one.
Our team is made up of individuals from diverse racial, cultural, and national backgrounds. Many of us are immigrants, children of immigrants, or come from families that have navigated displacement, language barriers, and systems not built for them. These lived experiences are not just personal—they are strategic assets that shape how we approach every campaign, every stakeholder meeting, and every engagement plan.
This diversity strengthens our work. It makes us more empathetic, more innovative, and more accountable. It reminds us that equitable engagement isn’t just theory—it’s a lived necessity.
We work hand-in-hand with grassroots leaders, multilingual networks, and trusted community voices to ensure that immigrants are not only represented but resourced. We push for seats at the table for those who have been historically excluded—and push institutions to design with, not just for, immigrant communities.
Let this month be more than a celebration. Let it be a call to action.
Because when every story is honored, every community thrives.
