“Hasta la Raíz”

song by Natalia Lafourcade & Leonel Garcia; check out our full curated playlist here – handpicked jams to keep the joy flowing!

Natalia Lafourcade’s “Hasta la Raíz” captures a truth that resonates deeply with immigrant communities: no matter how far we go or what changes around us, our roots remain. This song reflects the strength of families who continue to build their lives and communities despite shifting policies and uncertain futures.
Federal decisions have deep and lasting effects on families and communities across Wisconsin. Immigration policy shapes local realities in schools, workplaces, clinics, and communities. Nearly 300,000 immigrants live in Wisconsin, contributing to the state’s culture and economy as essential workers, taxpayers, caregivers, and community members. Yet federal policy shifts often create fear, instability, and inequity for these families.
Trump’s megabill, HR1, signed on July 4, 2025, represents one of the most sweeping changes in recent history. The law restricts access to essential programs and basic needs for many immigrants, threatening the well-being of children and families statewide.
This bill:

• Guts health insurance (BadgerCare) for refugees, asylees, trafficking survivors, and many other legally present immigrants;
• Eliminates Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for most lawfully present immigrants starting in 2026, making health insurance unaffordable for thousands of families;
• Narrows SNAP (FoodShare) eligibility, cutting food assistance for many immigrants and creates more hunger and economic hardship across the state;
• Bans U.S citizen children from receiving the Child Tax Credit if both of their parents lack Social Security numbers; and
• Invests over $170 billion in immigration enforcement, expanding detention centers, deportations, and local police cooperation with ICE.

Alongside the Wisconsin Collaboration on Immigrants and Public Benefits, we are analyzing and tracking bills in order to provide critical resources and knowledge to community partners. Even as policies attempt to harm families, they hold onto their heritage, resilience, and belief in a better world. No policy can change what grows from within: their raíces (our roots).

Spotlight: ​​Partnering with Emerging Leaders to Shape Immigration Advocacy

This year, students from the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison played a key role in advancing our immigration advocacy work at Kids Forward.

Lark Pinney, a Master of Social Work graduate and our social work intern, contributed meaningfully and authored a guest blog exploring the collaboration between the IRS and ICE, bringing attention to how the sharing of taxpayer data raises serious concerns about privacy, trust, and protections not only for immigrant families, but for the broader public as well.

Eliza Hake and Julia Danes, student volunteers, co-authored another guest blog, offering a student’s perspective on the Wisconsin state budget. Their work lifted up key issues that affect families across the state, including funding for language access, driver licenses for all, and raising the minimum wage.

Partnering with students and young advocates builds a pipeline of informed and engaged leaders while advancing policies that make Wisconsin a more just and welcoming state for all families. Their insights, creativity, and dedication help make our policy work stronger and more connected to the communities we serve. Read their blogs at kidsforward.org.