Hispanic Celebrities Join AFSC Campaign Highlighting Immigrant Contributions to American Society

The American Friends Service Committee announced the launch of its first-ever Hispanic celebrity PSA and publicity campaign titled 'Immigrants Make Our Communities Stronger.' The bilingual, nonpartisan initiative enlists trusted voices from across entertainment and activism to uplift the dignity of immigrants, spotlight their contributions, and counter harmful narratives with truth and pride. Immigrants, especially Latino immigrants, are a driving force of America's economic growth, social fabric, and cultural vitality.

Nearly half of the U.S. foreign-born workforce is Latino, driving key sectors, while Latinos overall are responsible for 80% of the U.S. labor force growth. Brian Minter, chief marketing & communications officer for AFSC, stated that immigrants make communities stronger as neighbors, coworkers, students, and business owners, but noted that current government raids are disrupting communities and creating a culture of fear. The campaign aligns with the culmination of Hispanic Heritage Month and will run through year-end, aiming to humanize immigrant communities while advocating for more equitable immigration policies.

By enlisting cultural leaders including American activist Dolores Huerta, actors Melissa Barrera, Tonatiuh, and Mishel Prada, Grammy-Award-winning recording artists Los Tigres Del Norte, Ozomatli's Wil-Dog Abers, Latin Grammy-Award-winning Chiquis, and recording artist Marisela, as well as Spanish-language television journalist Daniela Ganoza, and radio and TV personalities Don Cheto and Said Garcia Solis, the campaign centers on personal stories, cultural pride, and community contributions to shift the national dialogue. Huerta emphasized that immigrants aren't just part of America's story but are central to its success, noting that people are being harassed because of skin color in what she described as ethnic cleansing.

The campaign highlights significant immigrant contributions through data: Latino immigrants represent 52% of all Latino-owned employer businesses, with Hispanic-owned firms employing 3 million workers nationwide. Latino-owned businesses grew by 44% between 2018 and 2023, far outpacing their non-Latino peers. Immigrants paid $579 billion in U.S. taxes in 2022, including $96.7 billion from undocumented immigrants, most of whom are from Latin America. More than 500,000 Hispanic immigrant workers support U.S. agriculture, with Latinos comprising 1 in 4 workers across food manufacturing, wholesale, and service industries.

Tonatiuh shared his personal story, explaining how his mother came to the country not knowing the language and without a roadmap, working at a drive-thru before opening two businesses and raising a family. Because of her determination, he went from public school to leading a Hollywood film. He emphasized that immigrants are not a problem to fix but the living embodiment of America's values. Barrera added that as a proud Mexican actress working in the U.S., she has witnessed firsthand the strength, resilience, and beauty that immigrants bring to the country.

Prada described immigration as the heartbeat of American culture, noting that nothing great here was built alone and that we're all living proof of someone else's courage to start again. The bilingual PSA and campaign content will be distributed across traditional and digital media, social media, strategic media partnerships, AFSC's own communication networks, and those of allied organizations. By leveraging the cultural power of Latinx celebrities and influencers, AFSC's campaign aims to deliver a values-driven, emotionally resonant message that immigrants make communities stronger. More information about the campaign is available at https://afsc.org/stronger-immigrants.