Four young voters cast first ballots after years of navigating US immigration

Nicole Solis-Sison, 34, will cast her first ballot in New York City on November 3. She became a US citizen earlier this year after arriving in Los Angeles at age seven with her parents and immediate family to seek asylum from the Philippine government.

Solis-Sison said an immigration agent from the former Immigration and Naturalization Services recommended her family file for asylum after they landed on US soil. She spent more than two decades in the immigration system before receiving citizenship. She created a personal voter guide and diary for this election.

Juan Escalante, 37, will vote in his first general election from his home in California. Originally from Venezuela, he moved to the United States at age 11 and discovered his undocumented status during his junior year of high school. His family’s immigration case was mishandled by a lawyer, a mistake that prevented a simple refiling. He later gained protection through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and became a citizen in 2025.

Escalante said he researched every candidate and proposition on his large mail-in ballot carefully. He described the process as profoundly personal and emotional. He wants his vote to reflect his values as an immigrant and a Latino, supporting a community where his parents, who hold green cards, still worry about their future status.

Deisy España, 24, of Wisconsin is voting in a cycle that feels high stakes for her mixed-status family. Born in the US, she has always been a citizen, while her parents from Mexico were undocumented for much of her childhood. Her mother recently obtained a green card, but España said the fear of ICE enforcement has not fully dissipated. She stated she is voting for her parents, who cannot vote themselves.

Leydi Gonzalez, 23, of Texas, is also voting for her family. Her parents from El Salvador received authorization to stay in the US through her sponsorship after she turned 21. Her family discussed contingency plans for her siblings in case of parental detention or deportation after the first Trump election. Gonzalez noted that the recent killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Texas has raised the stakes for her community. She is watching the US Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton closely, believing a change in Congress could bring security for her family.