New Citizens Cast First Midterm Ballots

Nicole Solis-Sison, 34, is casting her first ballot in a general election in New York City. She became a U.S. citizen earlier this year after more than 20 years in the immigration system. Solis-Sison arrived in Los Angeles at age seven while her family sought asylum from the Philippine government. An immigration agent from the then-Immigration and Naturalization Services suggested they file for asylum, allowing the family to remain in the country legally.

Solis-Sison stated she feels a responsibility to protect others currently navigating the immigration process. She noted that her family survived with only a sliver of hope, a perspective that informs her current vote. She created a personal voter guide to manage the selection process for this milestone year.

Juan Escalante, 37, will vote in his first general election as a California resident. He moved to the United States from Venezuela at age 11. His family discovered he was undocumented during his junior year of high school after his parents’ attorney mishandled their immigration case. Escalante later qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program under the Obama administration.

He became a citizen in 2025, the first person in his family to achieve that status. Escalante said he meticulously researched every proposition and candidate on his mail-in ballot. He emphasized that his vote reflects his values as an immigrant and a Latino, aiming to support his community and family stability. His parents currently hold green cards.

Deisy España, 24, of Wisconsin, is voting for her undocumented parents from Mexico. Although she was born in the U.S., her parents faced fear of deportation during police stops. Her mother recently obtained a green card, but España said the threat persists due to increased activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She described her vote as an extension of her parents’ inability to participate directly.

Leydi Gonzalez, 23, of Texas, is also voting with her family’s legal status in mind. Her parents, from El Salvador, received authorization to stay in the U.S. through her sponsorship when she turned 21. Gonzalez said her family discussed emergency plans for her siblings in case her parents were detained. She cited the recent killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Texas as a factor raising the stakes for this election.

Gonzalez is watching the U.S. Senate race in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico is polling ahead of Republican nominee Ken Paxton. She said the potential shift in congressional control offers a chance for change. For both Gonzalez and España, the ballot is a tool to secure the future of their immediate families rather than just individual policy preferences.