S1E12 Liz Terrazas: Being Mexican-American at a Time of Immigration Enforcement

Liz Terrazas is teacher who has recently become engaged in issues of community safety, immigrant rights, and grassroots activism. She grew up in a Mexican-American family in Colorado—her father is from Chihuahua, Mexico, and her mother from Durango, Colorado. After earning her BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University in 2015, Liz returned to work as a teacher in the Four Corners region of Colorado and New Mexico.In recent months the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE—an agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, conducting deportations, and investigating cross-border crimes, has been particularly active. In response to questions around immigration enforcement, Liz started a grassroots effort to educate community members about their rights, legal protections, and available resources. In this podcast Liz talks to Anirvan about growing up in a Mexican-American community, how immigration enforcement is shaping life in small-town America, and the ways communities are organizing to stay informed and safe.