For HuffPost’s #LoveTakesAction series, we’re telling stories of how people are standing up to hate and supporting those most threatened. What will you stand up for? Tell us with #LoveTakesAction.
The United States was built by immigrants, and we shouldn’t forget it.
In light of President Trump’s executive order on immigration Wednesday, HuffPost Latino Voices asked readers to share their stories to show how immigrants already make America great using the hashtag #ImAlreadyHome. People from all walks of life and with roots in different corners of the world responded.
The outpouring of stories became a trending topic in the United States, and showed how immigration has helped sustain this country for generations.
If you want to take an emotional journey into the past, and see how it’s shaped our present, take a look at some of our favorite photos and stories below:
I'm an immigrant, son of a farmworker, & honored to serve as a U.S. Congressman. We should all have this opportunity. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/bi54szApXF
— Rep. Salud Carbajal (@RepCarbajal) January 27, 2017
Great love of my life, my abuelita, became a US citizen when she was in her 80s. She was so proud. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/ygJXGaTdh5
— MariaElena Fernandez (@writerchica) January 27, 2017
My dad is a Mexican immigrant who risked it all 2 live & raise a family here +start his own business.He makes America great❤️ #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/0y1SYIWXIV
— Belle (@esabelleeden) January 26, 2017
This is my Mexican fam failing @ taking a pic. We're just a family. Some are citizens some have green cards. #ImAlreadyHome #werealreadyhome pic.twitter.com/oTKiziZF6H
— Francesca Gámez (@cescathebesta) January 26, 2017
This sits on an island in my apt. A source of inspiration and strength. @DefineAmerican #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/VHfb3iuW5W
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) January 27, 2017
My single mother from Mexico put all three of us through college. Her dignity & hardworking rhetoric make this country great. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/Ocra7jJsze
— alejandra l-g (@exploding_girl) January 26, 2017
#ImAlreadyHome My grandpa served for the USA NAVY from The #Philippines award The Purple Heart 💜 Great Grandparents came for #Freedom #USA pic.twitter.com/la96TaUj0Q
— Nanette Fabros (@ntfabros) January 27, 2017
Happy early-birthday to my Mexican-Immigrant father who came to America with two gallons of water and a box of crackers. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/MirFVMzcJp
— Yasmin Rey (@myasminrey) January 26, 2017
My U.S.-born grandmother got illegally deported. But nothing or no one will stop us. We persevered!! #ImAlreadyHome https://t.co/wq42Uop97O pic.twitter.com/CUWwDdhP1L
— araceli cruz (@chelipj) January 26, 2017
Worked in the CA CV fields next to my parents. Earned a BA, MS..have taught 100's of children to read. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/aWS1aP8NOB
— Solymar (@1phototeach) January 27, 2017
My mother raised 4 kids on her own. 3 went to college, the other serves in the @USMC
— Susana Orozco (@SusanDelCampo) January 26, 2017
She works helping the community #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/E2fCEiZA6F
#ImAlreadyHome My Grandma, the one in the middle, is 1st generation. Her mom came to the US at age 6 in 1909. Proud to be an American Woman pic.twitter.com/jloVszt7V2
— Jo Booklover (@jolovesbooks) January 26, 2017
My 90 year old grandmother is a natural born citizen,but my father is an immigrant.#ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/YpFRKErQUl
— Summer Salazar (@slsanf) January 26, 2017
my dad is an immigrant who risked it all to give his family a better life than what he had in Mexico. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/G12hOA7Bzn
— pattie (@pattieamaranth) January 27, 2017
My grandparents left Cuba to escape a dictatorship and cleaned floors for years to help me get into school #ImAlreadyHome
— Christopher Mendoza (@DozaChris) January 27, 2017
I immigrated from Ireland and my husband from Chile.
— Sarnata Reynolds (@SarnataReynolds) January 27, 2017
Our kids are Chirish. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/Arnx73Vhxf
My #Abuelitas came here in the 70s & sacrificed so we could have enough.
— Daniel T. Clark (@Danieldcclark) January 27, 2017
This year I graduate with my Masters Degree. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/qdXtyoh7ql
My mom-in-law left a tiny Honduras village 48 years ago 2 raise 3 kids alone in NOLA & run her biz. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/zTaadi3RbA
— MariaElena Fernandez (@writerchica) January 27, 2017
My grandfather, Afro-cuban immigrant. Came to play baseball in a racist south. Refused to allow segregation defeat his pride. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/i5oIw4zLDw
— Thatninjajay (@julianelijah) January 27, 2017
Both my parents were first-generation middle school, high school, & college students. They graduated & gave me the best life. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/T0erRikatY
— Levi (@Levi_Har) January 27, 2017
My dad immigrated from 🇵🇪, worked 3 jobs to put himself thru college, sometimes only had enough $ to buy bag of rice to eat. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/DOAfO8ec6u
— Paulina Vera (@Pnvera) January 27, 2017
Born to a military 🇺🇸 dad and an Argentine 🇦🇷 Syrian 🇸🇾mom who expriencd gov abuse in her own cntry that we wont allow here 🙅🏼#ImAlreadyHome
— Roxanne Krause (@rgenteeny) January 27, 2017
Born during the civil war of El Salvador 🇸🇻 worked hard to become a citizen of 🇺🇸 USA #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/php4pbXrsR
— Erika E (@evesbk) January 27, 2017
My parents came here from South Africa to live in a country that strives to value everyone #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/St2qOoXBcH
— JanksMarc (@janksmarc) January 26, 2017
My #immigrant family is from 10 countries, 4 continents. #wegetthejobdone #ImAlreadyHome #immigrants pic.twitter.com/FeKPcy5D4X
— Dr Nabil El-Ghoroury (@drnabil) January 26, 2017
My mom braved the desert to get here in search for the American Dream & raised 3 proud Americans who give back to the world #ImAlreadyHome
— Alba King (@psychenoel) January 27, 2017
Here's me with my dad, who came to the U.S. from Hong Kong seeking opportunity. Eternally grateful to be an American! #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/yny3JBDkjI
— Curtis M. Wong (@c_wong79) January 26, 2017
At my college graduation in 2014. My sister is now a sophomore @BarnardCollege my dad came to this country for this #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/tRh2EdTHlf
— Marlene (@MMarleneS) January 26, 2017
When my mom was my age (24), she took a risky 3 day bus ride with a bag chips and bottle of water in search of a better life #imalreadyhome
— Celeste Zumwalt (@celestezumwalt) January 27, 2017
My Ama came to the US legally & raised 10 kids alone & fostered many more, worked in the fields & marched with Cesar Chavez #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/svC5X7cDF1
— Jessica Carmen (@yoyeska) January 26, 2017
My parents built themselves from the ground up. Raised me to work hard & have strong core values. #ImAlreadyHome #1stGenLatinx #WeDIDVote pic.twitter.com/fUSMoekbjM
— La LuchaNora (@xdswgx) January 26, 2017
Papi. Who came to this country, fought for this country & served in this country for over 30 years! #VietnamVet USAirForce #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/GO5F3I5fIr
— Meralis Hood (@meralishood) January 26, 2017
Grandma from Ciudad Juárez, great-grandparents from MX. Laborers, educators, WWII vets. Me and my family love this country. #ImAlreadyHome
— Rob Trucha (@RobertTheJr) January 27, 2017
This woman taught herself English to become a US citizen while being a single mom of three #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/WeXgRg1tc4
— Arleene (@ArleeneValdez) January 27, 2017
my parents escaped Venezuela & its dictatorship so i could have a future full of opportunity & freedom. trust me when i say #ImAlreadyHome
— y: (@mariahernvndez) January 27, 2017
My grandparents came from Lithuania after WWI #ImAlreadyHome
— Peggy-Ann Dretti (@Strega_Rossa) January 27, 2017
My father, an MD, packed boxes, plucked chickens & delivered pizza to get his family situated here. We're refugees. FU DJT. #imalreadyhome
— Masha Alexander (@MashaAlexander) January 27, 2017
My parents: my father traveled through border undoc. 🇬🇹/ mom left behind med school dream 🇪🇨: I try to pay it forward #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/WPGuLRa2CU
— Hendel Leiva (@HendelMedia) January 27, 2017
My dad came on a raft in '94. 2 of my mom's uncles drowned on the way. This year I graduate from college #imalreadyhome
— Melissa (@nobodyspendeja) January 26, 2017
My dad came here as undocumented Mexican immigrant. Worked 12+ hour days for 40+ years. Started a business that created jobs. #ImAlreadyHome
— Andy Lomeli (@andy_lomeli) January 26, 2017
My family orignally from Honduras.
— Christian Ucles (@daakardior) January 26, 2017
35 years in U.S. some Citizen/resident/Dreamers. #WeMakeAmericaGreat #ImAlreadyHome #Resist #nonosvamos pic.twitter.com/Hziq8gZ6de
Immigrated from Mexico; factory/field laborers to college educated giving back to the community in education & engineers #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/ntXi3b4Uig
— Norelia (@NoreliaCerda) January 27, 2017
Multicultural blended family - Nicaragua, Egypt, China, Mexico. Immigrants, #WeGetTheJobDone #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/JYUxRZms3S
— Dr Nabil El-Ghoroury (@drnabil) January 26, 2017
Refugee. Immigrated at 5yo. Parents worked hard to provide and make this place home. We belong here. Refugees belong here. #imalreadyhome
— ngoc (@wanderbloom) January 27, 2017
Daughter of undocumented refugee mami from 🇨🇴 & working class dad from 🇪🇨; 1st BA, PhD (both Ivy League) in family #ImAlreadyHome #Palante
— Yesenia Barragan (@Y__Barragan) January 27, 2017
My papi came in the 80s feeling extreme violence.I paying him back by getting into dental school. #ImAlreadyHome #HeretoStay pic.twitter.com/Lmnf9vQ4xC
— Darline Nazario (@Darlingdarss) January 27, 2017
#ImAlreadyHome great Grama left school in 6th grade, left Sweden at 17 to find work and a new life-farmed raised wonderful kids.
— ☔️Thea's way🌬🌊 (@aarenp) January 27, 2017
This picture was taken when we first moved here 15 years ago. We sacrificed everything for the opportunity of a better life #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/gmm1tgzGpq
— NotYourGoogle🥀 (@AmairanyMedel) January 27, 2017
#ImAlreadyHome I'm the Chicago-born kid of Hong Kong immigrants who grew up working class (Dad's from the slums). Now ballers; always badass pic.twitter.com/TexXk9pNzS
— Jenny Lam (@TheJennyLam) January 27, 2017
My mother is the strongest woman I know! She immigrated here from Jamaica & always taught us to be proud of our heritage #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/3glbURGfGN
— yung jerk chicken (@TheTinyLion_) January 27, 2017
My mom escaped the war in Nicaragua in the 1980s after her fist husband died. With 4 kids to give us freedom #ImAlreadyHome
— ♔ meli (@ficklefiasco_) January 27, 2017
My grandma only had an 8th grade education. She sacrificed her American dream for mine. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/C1UsLQvUk7
— SarahChaveraEdwards (@storybooksaga) January 27, 2017
My immigrant parents have given me the opportunity to receive an education, excercise my religion, and live the 🇺🇸 dream #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/YQ2ULCaMDK
— Melissa Alvarado (@melissavocado) January 27, 2017
They sacrificed their careers,left behind family, and have done nothing but work to make sure I had a better life #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/VS1iPFWoME
— Ginna Maldonado✨ (@GinnaaGissel) January 27, 2017
My great grandmother immigrated from what is now Slovakia. I love all immigrants and will stand up for them!! #ImAlreadyHome
— EmilyLowe, ABR,e-Pro (@EmilyLowe) January 27, 2017
It took my Dad 2x before successfully crossing the border. As a child of two mexiCAN immigrants I couldn't be more proud #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/5lrTzAahDT
— AIbarra (@IbarraA__) January 27, 2017
Daughter of Mexican immigrants. Have my BA and about to receive my MA. I lost my father to cancer, he's buried here. #ImAlreadyHome
— Ale Noemi (@alesolo) January 27, 2017
Came to the US with $127 dollars to their name and not one word of English so that I could reach the stars. #brownandproud #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/ttU1cYgxvF
— ashley (@ashleydianette) January 27, 2017
My mom sacrificed everything to give me a chance to succeed. Now my brothers and I are poised to take on the world. #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/I3GYGbOzQ9
— Robert Vasquez 👑 (@MrDirector911) January 27, 2017
Parents emigrated from DR in the 60's, him an auto worker for GM, her a seamstress in factories. Raised 3 proud Americans #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/5ZbV439ivn
— Jennifer (@bebedelaluna) January 27, 2017
My parents (& siblings) immigrated from 🇵🇦 in the 80s fleeing Noriega's rule & busted their ass to give us more opportunities #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/8LQBB62hAR
— Lorena Guardia (@lguardiaa) January 27, 2017
My parents emigrated from communist Cuba 1966 w/ my then two-year-old brother not knowing if they'd ever see family again. #ImAlreadyHome♥
— Rita Evelyn Yanez (@RitaEvelynYanez) January 27, 2017
They immediately started to legalization process and have been stuck in line for 26 years. They taught me to be an American. #ImAlreadyHome
— Jennifer Diaz (@JenniferDiaz09) January 27, 2017
#ImAlreadyHome: mom's mom escaped Polish pograms at 12; came alone but rejected at Ellis Isl; got to US thru Mexico. 3/4 kids college grads
— Lauren Moore (@dlmluckytiger) January 27, 2017
Thank you mami for your sacrifices, so that I can realize our American dream #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/UycBux307D
— yuridia (@yuridiapena) January 27, 2017
My Mexican parents raised 10 kids in US including future corp. executives, public servants and 2 U.S. veterans.Thanks to them #ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/Q25OUrTi5w
— Nancy (@ngtwome) January 27, 2017
My elementary-educated parents managed to get us through college bc they didnt want us to end up cleaning toilets as they did.#ImAlreadyHome pic.twitter.com/WcWfFRRuVi
— daisy (@daixxxy) January 27, 2017
Check out more stories, and share your own, on Twitter by following the #ImAlreadyHome hashtag here.
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