Unable to vote but with much at stake, undocumented migrants register Arizona voters and mobilize against anti-immigrant candidates

Published By: Cronkite News
Author: Sahara Sajjadi
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WASHINGTON – Arizona’s migrant communities have much on the line in the 2024 elections, with former President Donald Trump vowing mass deportations, and the end of both DACA protections and automatic citizenship for children born to non-Americans.

With no right to vote, some people in the country without legal status are finding ways to make their voices heard through grassroots activism – encouraging others to support sympathetic candidates.

“Not being able to vote puts you at a huge disadvantage. But we decided to organize our family, friends and people in the community that have the power of voting. We give them some information, and we share stories on how these decisions impact our daily life,” said Karina Ruiz, executive director at the Arizona Dream Act Coalition.

The group promotes civic engagement among Latinos and mixed-status families.

Arizona was home to 250,000 of roughly 11 million people living in the country illegally in 2022, according to a July 22 report from the Pew Research Center. That’s about 3.5% of the state’s total population, which is slightly above the national average.

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