The United States immigration system is frequently described as “broken,” but what does that mean for the people attempting to navigate it right now? For asylum seekers, DACA recipients, mixed-status families, and people caught in bureaucratic limbo, the process can be a never-ending maze with moving rules, long waits, and high stakes.
This blog entry provides a glimpse into the complexities of the current U.S. immigration system, as seen through the lives and stories of real people and the communities and organizations that support them. These immigration justice narratives help put a human face on the debate and highlight the need for advocacy, policy reform, and collective action.
Personal price of bureaucratic delay
The backlog of applications, interviews, and court sessions will be the most enduring problem for the system. In early 2024, the U.S. immigration court backlog exceeded 3.5 million cases, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University. This has resulted in many foreigners waiting years for their asylum hearings or the processing of their green cards.
Case Example
Ana, a Honduran nurse, applied for asylum after escaping political violence. Then, after her interview was rescheduled three times due to staff shortages and a policy change, she has not received a decision in five years. Meanwhile, she cannot be reunited with her children or find permanent work.
These delays affect mental health, financial security, and the ability to plan.
Detention and Fear of Deportation
Scores of immigrants hoping to claim asylum in the United States are held at private facilities operated by companies such as CoreCivic or GEO Group. The facilities have been subject to numerous lawsuits for dangerous conditions and lagging medical care.
For many undocumented immigrants, the threat of deportation is never far away. As a 2022 Pew Research report estimates, more than 10 million undocumented immigrants are living in the U.S., many with strong connections to their communities.
Story Highlights
Luis, a construction worker from El Salvador, has lived in Texas for 14 years with his U.S.-citizen wife and children. Because local police were working with immigration enforcement, after a routine traffic stop, a native-born person with no criminal record wound up in ICE custody.
DACA Recipients in Limbo
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has shielded hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation and allowed them to work and go to school. However, DACA has been continuously challenged in court. As of 2025, new applications are still not being dealt with, and court challenges are ongoing.
DACA Recipient Story
Emily is a medical student in California and has been living in the U.S. since she was three years old. She has won a full scholarship, but whether she will be able to practice medicine is in doubt. “I do everything you are supposed to do,” she says, “but in the eyes of the law, I am just disposable.
The following DACA recipient stories illustrate the emotional toll of living in a state of legal uncertainty.
Separation of Family and Mixed-Status Families
Family separation is not only a memory of the 2018 news cycle. It extends to deportations, visa applications in limbo, and varying immigration statuses within the same family.
Mixed-Status Family
The Ahmed family, from Pakistan, consists of a father who is a U.S. citizen, a mother who is undocumented, and two U.S.-born children. The mother was taken into custody after a periodic raid on a workplace. Trauma is left even if it is released later.
| Family Member | Status | Risk of Deportation |
| Father | U.S. citizen | None |
| Mother | Undocumented | High |
| Son (10) | U.S. citizen | None |
| Daughter (7) | U.S. citizen | None |
This piecemeal legal environment generates instability, fear, and long-term consequences for children.
Voices of Immigrants and Now For Change
Despite all the challenges, immigrant communities are organizing, advocating, and coming together to support one another.
Mutual Aid and Community Self-Defense
When policies fail, immigrant-led grassroots campaigns have filled the void. From legal support to housing assistance, mutual aid networks can serve as the first line of defense.
Example
During the COVID-19 pandemic, groups like Make the Road New York and RAICES delivered PPE, food, and rent relief to undocumented families who were locked out of federal aid.
Immigrant Protest Stories
Immigrants have also organized massive protests calling for humane border policies, a pathway to citizenship, and an end to detention.
“Being visible is the only power we have,” says Mireya, an immigrant organizer from Arizona who protested outside an ICE detention center for more than 100 days.
Immigration Policy’s Human Impact
Policy changes are often described in abstract terms, such as numbers, quotas, or increases in border funding. But behind each policy is a human story.
Visa Ban Impact Stories
In 2017, the “Muslim Ban” prevented thousands of families from reuniting. Though the ban was reversed, many are still recovering.
Example
Fatima, a Yemeni mother, missed five years of her son’s life due to visa bans and embassy closures.
Border Policy Human Stories
Under Title 42, more than 2.5 million migrants were expelled without asylum hearings. This policy disproportionately affected Black and Indigenous asylum seekers from Haiti and Central America.
One Haitian father said, “We weren’t treated like humans. We were pushed back, and now we live in a tent city waiting for a chance.”
Discrimination and Inequity in Daily Life
Legal status or lack thereof often leads to other forms of exclusion.
Rights at the Workplace for Immigrants
The undocumented are frequently exploited in the workplace. According to a 2021 study by the Economic Policy Institute, wage theft was widespread in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and domestic work.
Example
Rosa, a housekeeper in Florida, was underpaid and not given breaks. When she protested, she was threatened with deportation.
Immigrant Voices in Discrimination Cases
Landlords sometimes won’t rent to people without Social Security Numbers or specific types of visas, even if it’s illegal.
Barriers Related to Healthcare and Education
Many immigrants, particularly the undocumented, have difficulty accessing affordable health care and public benefits. Their children may encounter educational barriers due to a lack of language proficiency and limited financial resources.
Immigrant Child Story
Mateo, 9, was placed in an English-only class despite not speaking English. During school meetings, his mother did not have access to a translator.
Common Immigration Myths And the Truth
To better understand the immigration system, it’s crucial to address widespread misconceptions.
| Myth | Reality |
| “Immigrants don’t pay taxes.” | Most immigrants—including undocumented ones—pay sales, property, and income taxes. |
| “It’s easy to come here legally.” | The legal immigration process can take decades, depending on category and country of origin. |
| “Asylum seekers are criminals.” | Seeking asylum is a legal right under U.S. and international law. |
| “Immigrants take American jobs.” | Immigrants often fill labor shortages in agriculture, healthcare, and the hospitality industry. |
| “DACA recipients are draining the system.” | DACA recipients contribute billions to the U.S. economy and workforce. |
How Policy Change Happens Through Storytelling
Policy frequently shifts not just because of data, but as a result of narratives that humanize immigrants and their stories.
Story As Advocacy Example
Preventing the detention of children became a national cause after images of children in cages were widely circulated. Public outcry would eventually lead to changes in detention policy and funding.
Through personal testimony of a life on the margins, narratives of Immigrants inspire, inform, and move people to change. Every story we tell about immigration justice can change minds and force action.
Why Immigrant Voices Matter
The U.S. immigration system is broken and can be unjust, but it’s not worth throwing your party over. True immigrant stories of people charting their path through this system reveal not only the struggle but also the strength, hope, and organizing power of communities.
If you’re a believer in standing up for immigrant communities and shaping policy through storytelling, take part. We can build a system based on shared humanity and mutual support if we share these stories to help us empathize and inform better laws.
Join the Movement for Immigration Justice
Explore more stories, share your own, or support advocacy efforts at
https://storiesofimmigrants.org/
Because immigrant voices matter and their stories can change everything.
