#7 ¿Que pasó? with Señor B - week of 5/12

I am an old man now 🧓 

This past Friday I turned 33! I am usually not a fan of my birthdays- there is a lot of trauma that I am still trying to work through.

As I mature though I try to take some time and reflect on all of my blessings. I have done a lot by now→ from multiple years as a teacher, to being a principal and even cultivating a community with you all.

A goal I have set for myself for this upcoming year is to find a way to go from surviving in my day to day life to thriving. I don’t know what that means, or how I will do it- but please hold me accountable to it.

@senor_barragan

Thank you all for the support 🙏🏽 feeling blessed #SeñorB #dreamer #daca #mexico #bayarea #birthday #cumpleaños

Bill to Help Immigrant Children Without Lawyers

Imagine a child facing complicated deportation hearings all alone – that's the reality for thousands of young immigrants who arrive in the U.S. by themselves. It's incredibly unfair to expect them to understand complex laws and argue their own case, so a new California proposal, AB1261 (currently under review as of May 2025), aims to make sure these children get the lawyers they desperately need. This is especially critical because earlier this year, the Trump administration cut federal funding for these legal services, sparking ongoing court battles and leaving many children vulnerable, even though a 2008 federal law says the government should try to provide such help. Having a lawyer can be the difference between safety in the U.S. or being sent back to danger, which is why efforts like AB1261 and consistent federal support are vital to give every child a fair chance and protect their rights.

@senor_barragan

Let’s hope other places follow as well #migrantchildren #undocumented #inmigrantes #california

Scammers Targeting Migrants?!

Please be very careful of scam messages targeting immigrants to steal personal information, recently seen in Texas, which often look like real alerts about immigration hearings or services. These are tricky because you might be expecting genuine news, but you can protect yourself: always check links closely for misspellings or differences from past official communications before clicking, and be suspicious of any hearing supposedly scheduled after 5 PM, as this is unlikely. Remember that while some official numbers start with 1-800, scammers can fake this, so always verify unexpected requests for personal data by contacting the relevant government agency directly through their official website or phone number. If a message feels wrong, don't click, reply, or share information, and consider reporting it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

@senor_barragan

People are so messed up #immigrants #texas #latino #latina #immigration

White South African Refugees?

This week, reports emerged that the Trump administration welcomed 59 white South Africans to the U.S., granting them entry based on claims that they are victims of racial discrimination and escaping an alleged "genocide." This move comes at a time when the administration has largely suspended refugee resettlement from most other nations, raising alarms about a potentially discriminatory precedent in determining who is considered legitimate in seeking refuge.

The contrast in how these individuals are being received compared to the portrayal and treatment of Black and Brown immigrants and asylum seekers is deeply concerning.

The validity of the asylum claims made by this group has been widely disputed. Multiple sources have refuted the "genocide" narrative, and notably, the South African government itself has publicly pushed back against the assertions of persecution that formed the basis of these asylum claims. The South African government also stated that these individuals had not been vetted by them, adding another layer of contention to the situation.

While the need for a safe place to live is a fundamental human right, the decision to seemingly extend this support selectively to one group while denying it to many others is profoundly problematic and calls into question the fairness and equity of the current approach to asylum and refugee protection.

@senor_barragan

That whole seed analogy was telling🧐 #immigration #southafrica #refugees #latino #latina