Transforming Immigration Policy: A Call for Compassion and Humanity in CA-26

Our immigration system is broken, and the damage is happening right here in California’s 26th District. I’m Liam Hernandez, running for Congress because I have seen firsthand how this system tears families apart and spreads fear in our communities. This issue is not just political to me—it is deeply personal.

I come from an immigrant, working-class family that struggled every day to survive. I have lived with autism and bipolar disorder, and I have relied on government programs like SNAP and SSI to get by. These experiences showed me how systems that punish rather than support people only create trauma, not safety. When military-style ICE raids hit our neighborhoods, I saw the fear and pain they caused. That is why I am committed to changing immigration policy to one rooted in compassion, dignity, and justice.

A quiet residential street in Oxnard with family homes

My Story and Why It Matters

Growing up in a working-class immigrant family, I learned early what it means to live with uncertainty. My parents worked long hours, often without the safety nets many take for granted. Immigration was not an abstract debate in our household—it was about our survival, our dignity, and our future.

Living with autism and bipolar disorder added layers of challenge. Navigating healthcare, social services, and government programs like SNAP and SSI was often confusing and discouraging. These systems felt designed to punish rather than help. I know what it means to feel invisible and dehumanized by policies that treat people as problems instead of neighbors.

When ICE raids began targeting our district, the fear became unbearable. Parents stopped going to work, children were afraid to attend school, and entire neighborhoods lived in constant anxiety. These raids did not make us safer—they destroyed trust and community bonds. Watching this unfold pushed me to step forward and fight for change.

What ICE Raids Do to Our Communities

ICE raids in CA-26 have been military-style operations that traumatize families and communities. These raids:

• Separate parents from children without warning

• Create fear that stops people from accessing schools, hospitals, and workplaces

• Undermine trust between immigrant communities and local authorities

• Fail to improve public safety or reduce crime

  
  

Families live in constant fear of unmarked vehicles and midnight knocks. This fear is not just emotional—it has real consequences for children’s education, mental health, and family stability. The silence from leadership during these moments sends a message that these harms are acceptable.

A Vision for a Humane Immigration System

I support abolishing ICE and replacing it with a system that respects human rights and due process. Our immigration policies should:

• Keep families together and end mass detention

• Protect asylum seekers and restore their legal rights

• Provide a clear, fair pathway to citizenship

• Recognize immigrants as essential contributors to our economy and communities

  
  

This means building a system based on compassion, not fear. It means investing in community-based solutions that support integration and safety without trauma. It means treating every person with dignity, regardless of their immigration status.

Community gathering in Santa Paula with diverse families sharing stories

Real Steps to Reform Immigration in CA-26

To transform immigration policy in our district, we need practical, actionable changes:

• End all military-style ICE raids that terrorize neighborhoods

• Close private detention centers and replace them with community-based alternatives

• Increase funding for legal aid to help immigrants navigate the system

• Expand protections for asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution

• Create local programs that support immigrant workers and families

  
  

These steps will rebuild trust and safety in our communities. They will help families thrive instead of live in fear. They will recognize the vital role immigrants play in our local economy—from agriculture to small businesses and essential services.

Why Compassion Creates Safety

Systems built on punishment create trauma, but systems built on compassion create safety. When families are kept together, children can attend school without fear, and parents can work without anxiety. When immigrants have access to legal protections and pathways to citizenship, they contribute more fully to society.

Our district—from Oxnard to Santa Paula to Fillmore—deserves policies that reflect these values. We need leadership that listens to the people, understands their struggles, and fights for justice.

Community mural in Fillmore depicting unity and hope

Moving Forward Together

Changing immigration policy will not be easy, but it is necessary. I am running for Congress to bring a voice of compassion and humanity to Washington. I want to build a future where no family lives in fear of raids, where every person is treated with dignity, and where our communities can thrive together.

If you believe in a fair and just immigration system, join me in this fight. Together, we can transform policy and create a district that stands as a model of compassion and respect.

Let’s build a future where immigration is not a source of fear but a story of hope and opportunity for all.