Magazine, The Immigrant Experience
In November 2025, community members gathered at the Del Aire Park Community Center for a pivotal Racial Justice Learning Exchange (RJLE), hosted by LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. Titled “The Journey of Us: Honoring the Diverse Immigrant Stories that Shape Us,” the event brought together activists, policy leaders, and advocates to confront the urgent challenges facing immigrant communities.
Among the most powerful voices was Sylvia Tremillo, a youth organizer with CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights), who delivered a moving talk about the criminalization of immigrants and the transformative power of storytelling.
TIM TV attended to listen, learn, and amplify what is too often left out of the headlines: that immigrants are not merely defined by laws—they are the authors of truth, sacrifice, and survival.
Challenging the Criminalization of Immigrants
Tremillo began with a stark reflection: when many Americans hear the word “immigrant,” the word “criminal” often follows. This stereotype is reinforced by mainstream media coverage and political rhetoric, where immigration is frequently associated with crime statistics, border invasions, and national security threats. This dangerous conflation, she noted, has been socially and politically engineered—rooted in the same logic that once fueled mass incarceration and racial profiling during the war on drugs. Now, it’s targeting immigrants, especially Latino communities.
Whether it’s street vendors at Home Depot or tamale sellers on LA corners, undocumented residents are being detained without warning—disappearing in minutes by ICE. Tremillo, through her rapid response work, sees firsthand how this narrative of criminality is deployed to justify sudden removals, family separations, and a national indifference to immigrant pain.
The Power of Storytelling to Shift the Narrative
In contrast to fear-based rhetoric and media stereotyping, Tremillo championed a different tool: storytelling. She reminded the audience that the path of every immigrant is shaped by values—by love for family, hope for safety, and dreams of opportunity. Tremillo shared the story of a teenage girl from Guatemala, recently reunited with her mother in LA after over a decade apart. Her mother had crossed alone years ago, driven by poverty and violence, and worked tirelessly to support her daughter from afar. Now together, they face the challenge of rebuilding a relationship shaped by distance and sacrifice. This story, like many others, underscores the emotional depth behind migration—by love for family, hope for safety, and dreams of opportunity. Leaving one’s homeland isn’t a crime of convenience. It’s a response to necessity, a decision rooted in courage.
She spoke of immigrant youth who have only recently reunited with parents after years of separation. Their families made agonizing decisions—like whether to bring their children on a dangerous journey or leave them behind for safety. These are not just border-crossing stories. They are stories of human ethics, sacrifice, and long-term consequence.
Stories That Move People
Tremillo outlined the anatomy of a public narrative: a challenge, a choice, and an outcome. She recalled the story of a father who fled political persecution, made the agonizing decision to cross with his young son, and now advocates for others facing deportation. His story began with fear, moved through sacrifice, and continues with a call for justice and community support. And most critically—a call to action.
These aren’t just stories to make people cry. They’re stories meant to move people—from apathy to awareness, from compassion to action. By telling our truths, she argued, we tear down isolation. We help others understand that immigrant pain is not rare, and immigrant dignity is not optional.
In a media climate flooded with Fox News highlight reels of so-called immigrant “criminals,” Tremillo called on the audience to remember and amplify the everyday immigrant heroes: the street vendors, the caregivers, the dreamers, and the workers who do no harm but face harm daily.
Building Solidarity Through Stories
When immigrants share their stories—honestly and unapologetically—they do more than defend themselves. They build bridges. They create solidarity. They give others permission to see themselves as worthy of protection, visibility, and voice.
Tremillo’s message was clear: our communities are under pressure, but our voices are powerful. We must tell our stories not just to survive, but to resist.
To hear Sylvia Tremillo’s powerful talk and join the conversation, watch the full video here
For more stories like this, subscribe to TIM TV—Voice of Immigrants. Because every immigrant story is an American story, and we’re here to make sure it’s heard.
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