In this conversation for The Electorette, I sat down with Jessica Orozco Guttlein, Senior Vice President for Policy and Communications at the Hispanic Federation, to unpack how U.S. immigration policy has failed immigrant communities for nearly four decades—and the devastating impact that failure continues to have today.
In their hearts, but for a piece of paper, they are American.
From 1986 to Today: A Long Policy Stalemate
Jessica reminds us that the last time undocumented immigrants had a broad, federally legislated path to legal status was in 1986 under President Ronald Reagan. “That was the last time undocumented individuals, in mass numbers, had a way to get documentation in the United States,” she explains. “Since then, there has been no opportunity… because Congress has been unable to pass anything that would do that”.
The DREAM Act and Political Football
The DREAM Act, first introduced in the early 2000s, was designed to give undocumented youth—many of whom grew up in the U.S., speak English, and see this country as their home—a path to citizenship. “In their hearts, but for a piece of paper, they are American,” Jessica says. Yet, she adds, “this population has been used as a political football… Instead of passing a very common-sense piece of legislation, lawmakers say, ‘If we give our Dreamers a path to citizenship, then our bargaining chip is gone’”.
Families Under Fear and Stress
Jessica also highlights the plight of mixed-status families—households where U.S.-citizen children live with undocumented parents. “These kids are living with the fear that their mothers or fathers won’t be home when they get back from school,” she says. Parents are going so far as to prepare power of attorney documents and contingency plans in case they are deported. The emotional toll is profound: children and adolescents are shouldering levels of anxiety and stress that no young person should have to carry. As Jessica put it, “They’re resilient—but they shouldn’t have to be so resilient.”
Asylum, Work, and Bureaucratic Barriers
We also discuss the U.S. asylum process, which once allowed applicants to work while awaiting decisions. But since the 1996 policy change, asylum seekers must wait six months before applying for work permits. “So you have individuals who fled persecution, who just want to work—and if they get caught working before that six months, their asylum case is thrown out,” Jessica explains. “It’s not that they want a handout. They just wanted to work”.
Economic Contradictions
While immigrant labor sustains industries from farming to hospitality to healthcare, these same workers face heightened surveillance, raids, and deportations. “There is a gentleman’s agreement in some geographies that farms won’t be raided,” Jessica notes. “We’re not giving you permission to be here, but we also won’t target farms because the economy depends on it.” That contradiction—immigrants essential yet criminalized—runs throughout U.S. immigration enforcement.
Looking Ahead: Piecemeal vs. Comprehensive Reform
Comprehensive immigration reform has repeatedly failed. Jessica argues for another approach: “I intentionally stopped saying ‘comprehensive,’ because it becomes so over-politicized that nothing happens. We need a piecemeal approach in Congress where we build off wins. Let’s pass protections for Dreamers first, then expand to parents, farmworkers, and others”
Hispanic Federation Launches Federal Policy Series to Elevate Impact of Recent National Policies on Latino Community
Hispanic Federation launched its Federal Policy Series on July 15, 2025, featuring standalone chapters through the summer on a range of topics, starting with a focus on immigration. The series amplifies Latino voices—based on insights from more than 130 Latino-serving nonprofits at the Encuentro Nacional—and proposes actionable policy paths forward in areas from democracy and civil rights to housing, environmental justice, and beyond
