Immigration is arguably the most prominent issue in America today. Many continue to weigh the economic, security, and humanitarian concerns while others have endorsed anti-immigrant viewpoints with their insightful rhetoric.

To help inform discussions around immigration, USC students from diverse backgrounds are going on a trip in the Spring with aims to challenge the underlying assumptions of the immigrant community through service work.

We will be analyzing the history of immigration policy and politics by looking deeper into global conflicts that drive individuals to the States. We  will also be engaging with leaders from government agencies, law enforcement, and activist organizations in an attempt to understand the many aspects and struggles of the immigrant experience.

We also aim to come back to Los Angeles and apply the knowledge that we have learned: first, to our immediate community, second to the immigration system of the State of California, and third, to the vast complex system in the federal level.  We will be keeping in touch with our network in Texas and will continue working with them until the time that immigration is no longer an almost traumatic experience for people.


Who are we?
Our names are Gabe, Ashley, Araksya, Vani, Alyssa, Luke, Rosie, William, Elizabeth, Phuong, and Patrick and we are all current USC undergraduate and master's students from diverse backgrounds.

We study various fields including Law, Culture, Journalism, Public Health, Social Work, and other interdisciplinary studies that encompass the whole immigrant experience.

Most of us are immigrants ourselves or are children of immigrants that have experienced various types of discrimination and difficulties based solely on our races, identities, and status.

Through time, we and our families have overcome most of these challenges that were thrown on us by the complex US immigration system and we believe that we are now in a position to help other immigrants that are still currently going through this arduous process.

Where does your donation go?
Your donation will be used for various purposes:
1) Subsidize the trip itself including airfare and travel
2) Organize talks with immigration officials and politicians and lobby them for better immigration reform
3) Subsidize paperwork process and filing fees for immigrants seeking asylum and refuge
4) Most importantly, fund immigrant housing and clothing for immigrants who come to the US without resources on their hands

Help us get there!
We are not fully funded by USC and as students who rely mostly on financial aid, grants, and heavy loans, we would like to ask for your help and assistance for our nation and for current and future immigrants to benefit from the full extent of our study.

Be a part of this endeavor
In the future, the United States will soon be on the threshold of major new reforms that would address longstanding problems of both legal and illegal immigration – will you be a part of it?