Lilia Loera, Texas State Legislature

As a graduate student conducting research on immigration activism, I wanted to understand the political discourse, or debate, on immigration in relation with the academic literature. So for the spring 2015 semester, I decided to intern for the Texas House legislature for Representative Joe Farias. Representative Joe Farias is a Democratic house member who represents… Continue Reading Lilia Loera, Texas State Legislature

Jesus Hernandez, American Gateways

Gang violence is a persistent problem for Mexican and Central American, individuals. This problem has caused an increase in the number of individuals applying for asylum. Blake (2012) states, “According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), from 2009 to 2011, the number of asylum applications from Mexico in the United States more… Continue Reading Jesus Hernandez, American Gateways

Amy Oakes, Refugee Services of Texas

Refugee Services of Texas (RST) is a non-profit organization that works with Church World Service, Episcopal Migration Ministries, and the U.S. Committee of Refugees and Immigrants to provide services for refugees, asylees, human trafficking survivors, and other displaced people in an attempt to help them regain their self-sufficiency in their resettlement in the United States.… Continue Reading Amy Oakes, Refugee Services of Texas

Monica Molina, Texas Department of State Health Services

As a former emergency medical technician (EMT), I have witnessed provider-patient misunderstandings, lack of medication compliance, and abuse of the emergency medical system. As an applied medical anthropologist, I have come to realize the importance of looking through a cross-cultural lens when evaluating why people do what they do in regards to health and healing… Continue Reading Monica Molina, Texas Department of State Health Services