AFSC Launches Hispanic Celebrity Campaign Highlighting Immigrant Economic Contributions

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 and spotlight their contributions to American society.

Nearly half of the U.S. foreign-born workforce is Latino, driving key sectors of the economy, while Latinos overall are responsible for 80% of the U.S. labor force growth. The campaign comes at a critical time when immigrants are facing increased scrutiny and enforcement actions. Brian Minter, chief marketing and communications officer for AFSC, stated that immigrants are being detained and disappeared, tearing apart families and neighborhoods, with government raids disrupting communities and creating a culture of fear.

The economic impact of immigrant communities is substantial. Latino immigrants represent 52% of all Latino-owned employer businesses, with Hispanic-owned firms employing 3 million workers nationwide. Between 2018 and 2023, Latino-owned businesses grew by 44%, 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, while Latinos comprise 1 in 4 workers across the food manufacturing, wholesale, and service industries. The campaign features prominent cultural leaders including American activist Dolores Huerta, actors Melissa Barrera, Tonatiuh, and Mishel Prada, Grammy-Award-winning recording artists Los Tigres Del Norte, and other influential figures.

Huerta emphasized that immigrants aren't just part of America's story but central to its success, noting that many people being targeted are indigenous to these continents and facing harassment based on skin color. Actor Tonatiuh shared his personal story of his mother's journey from working at a drive-thru to opening two businesses, illustrating the determination that characterizes many immigrant experiences.

Barrera, a Mexican actress working in the U.S., highlighted the strength, resilience, and beauty that immigrants bring to the country, emphasizing that immigrants are not outsiders but an integral part of the fabric of the United States. Prada described immigration as the heartbeat of American culture, noting that nothing great in America was built alone.

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. The bilingual PSA and campaign content will be distributed across traditional and digital media, social media, and strategic media partnerships. More information about the campaign is available at https://afsc.org/stronger-immigrants.