I sit in my living room, staring at my son’s backpack, a small reminder of the life we’ve built here, piece by piece. He’s a U.S. citizen, born and raised in a country that has always been his home. As the news blares about the election results, I think about his future. Donald Trump has won again, backed by a Congress and state-level MAGA officials ready to carry out his Project 2025 plans and mass deportation agenda. As a mother, I can’t help but worry for my son’s safety first. That’s true of all moms. We would do anything for our babies, and I fear for all the children who are at risk of seeing their parents violently targeted. But as an organizer, my worry turns to resolve. And I am fueled by the conviction to move mountains to protect myself, my son and my undocumented community.

I’ve heard Trump’s rhetoric about people like me, and I know all too well what it means when he talks about “cleaning up” our communities. For my son and me, it’s not politics; it’s the risk of separation, the looming threat of deportation, the pain of being forced apart. I am filled with a fierce determination to keep us all safe because I know that my story isn’t unique. There are countless families just like mine — mothers, fathers, children — who wake up every day, care for our communities and work to build a liberated future here.

The results of this election lay bare a truth we can’t ignore: We can never count on the federal government to prioritize the needs of families like mine. It was up to Democrats to make a compelling case to voters, to show that they’re committed to building a future where all of us — especially immigrants, people of color, LGBTQIA communities and working-class families — can thrive. But instead, they tried to meet Republicans in the middle, and in doing so, lost sight of us.

Meanwhile, Trump propelled immigration to the center of his campaign, demonizing people like me and promising to carry out mass deportations on day one.

But make no mistake: My home is here. My son’s home is here. We belong here just as much as anyone else, and we are a central part of our communities, our schools and our neighborhoods.

I know where I will be on day one of........

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