This month, Boundless’ weekly immigration newsletter “BIT” celebrated its 100th edition.
Since its start in 2021, BIT has brought 17,800 subscribers breaking immigration news, tips for navigating one’s immigration journey, and more. The newsletter has tracked immigration reform in Congress, ever-changing policies at the U.S.-Mexico border, and how the latest economic challenges have impacted immigrant workers, to name just a few of BIT’s biggest stories.
To celebrate 100 editions of BIT, here are some of our favorite feel-good immigration stories from the past year:
BANNING TOGETHER
A coalition of religious communities in Sacramento pulled together to welcome migrants from Latin America into their city. “Help looked like making sure every person had a safe place to stay, making sure they had food to eat and clean clothing,” said one group leader about the collaborative efforts.
HIGHER EDUCATION
A new state law in Massachusetts will allow all students, regardless of immigration status, to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges or universities. The bill comes after years of lobbying by advocacy groups for tuition equity and better access to higher education for all Massachusetts residents.
FREE LEGAL WORKSHOPS
A legal services clinic at the University of Wyoming hosts free workshops to help the local community with all things immigration. The workshops aim to make legal immigration services more accessible, with a focus on topics such as naturalization, family-based visas, and more.
WALK FOR CHANGE
In California, hundreds of immigrants and advocates set out on a 40-mile march to protest decades of government inaction on immigration reform. Organizers are calling on Congress to pass the “Registry Bill,” which would provide 8 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a pathway to legal permanent residency.
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Thien Pham’s Family Style is a memoir of his family’s harrowing immigration journey, and how food and communal gathering can always bring you back to your roots. Read more about Pham’s latest graphic novel and approach to visual storytelling here!
DISNEY DREAMS
A youth program is selling handmade art and clothing to send a group of migrant teens on a trip to Disneyland. The Disneyland fundraiser has a $5,000 goal to make the trip a reality for more than two dozen migrant teens in the San Francisco area.
CLASSIC WITH A TWIST
An exciting new retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice takes readers on a journey through New York City’s Chinatown in the early 2000s. Listen to author C.K. Chau chat about her new book Good Fortune here.
HOMECOMING
Inspired by her own journey as a DACA recipient, author Margarita Quiñones-Peña published a new children’s book that humanizes the lives of undocumented children in the U.S. All of Homecoming’s proceeds will be donated to help asylum seekers in the Chicago area.
GROUNDBREAKING CASE
A gay couple won a groundbreaking court case to obtain U.S. citizenship for their son born via surrogate. Read more about the couple’s inspiring fight to keep their family together and how their case will protect future LGBTQ+ parents here.
TRANSLATORS
A new documentary is shining a light on the crucial role bilingual teenagers play as translators for their immigrant family members. “Translators” has received an outpouring of support from viewers around the country who have shared similar experiences in their own families.
CLIMATE ART
Argentinian-born artist Luciana Abait creates multimedia works that explore the intersection between climate change and migration. Abait presents her socially conscious exhibits in public spaces, ensuring a wider audience is able to experience them.
NEW QUARTER
The U.S. Mint released new designs for 2024 quarters that will feature prolific American women. Among the women selected is “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz, who will be the first Afro-Latina to be featured on the quarter.
NPR TINY DESK
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany García recently performed on NPR’s beloved Tiny Desk concert series. During her performance, García dedicated one of her tracks to immigrants around the world. Listen here!
PROBLEMISTA
A new quirky film starring Tilda Swinton follows an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador who moves to New York to live out his “American Dream.” Look out for “Problemista” in theaters in early August.
CLIMATE JUSTICE
A new social justice initiative is bringing migration to the forefront of climate change discussion. The Climate Justice Fellowship, a new program based in Maryland, lobbies for more inclusive immigration and climate policies across the U.S.
LEGAL HELP FOR FARMWORKERS
Undocumented farmworkers in California who speak out against unsafe working conditions will now have access to free legal help. “Farmworkers are the backbone of our economy, and we won’t stand by as bad actors use the threat of deportation as a form of exploitation,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a press release.
MURAL ACTIVISM
An immigrant rights organization uses murals to shine a light on the resilience and strength of undocumented communities in the U.S. 67 Sueños has painted 16 murals across California’s Bay Area since 2011.
GERBER BABY
Get ready for some serious cuteness! This year’s Gerber Baby is smiley and adventurous Madison Mendoza, the 10-month-old daughter of a first generation Filipino family.
DOCTOR TO THE STARS
The film “Sight” tells the story of a poor Chinese immigrant who defies all odds to become an Ivy League graduate and accomplished ophthalmologist. Dr. Ming Wang, whose life inspired the film, treats celebrity patients like Dolly Parton and Kenny Chesney.
NEW CITIZEN
After a 30-year long journey, immigrant rights activist Gaby Pacheco became a U.S. citizen. Pacheco, who came to the U.S. from Ecuador as a child, was instrumental in the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.