New Citizens Cast First Ballots in Midterm
Young voters from immigrant families say their first votes carry weight for relatives still navigating the U.S. legal system.
By Tessa Cooper ·
Nicole Solis-Sison, 34, is voting for the first time in New York City during the 2026 midterm elections. She became a U.S. citizen earlier this year after spending more than two decades in the immigration system. Solis-Sison moved to the United States from the Philippines at age seven, where her family sought asylum.
She said an Immigration and Naturalization Services agent suggested her family file for asylum after they landed in Los Angeles. That legal step allowed them to stay. Now, Solis-Sison feels a responsibility to protect others still in the process. She created a personal voter guide to help her choose candidates.
Juan Escalante, 37, is also casting his first general election ballot. Originally from Venezuela, he moved to Florida at age 11. He discovered he was undocumented during his junior year of high school. A lawyer mishandled his parents’ immigration case, leaving the family out of the standard queue. He later qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program under the Obama administration, which allowed him to graduate college.
Escalante became the first American citizen in his family in 2025. His parents hold green cards, but he worries about their future status. He said he researched every proposition on his California ballot carefully. He wants his vote to reflect his values as an immigrant and a Latino.
Deisy España, 24, is a U.S. citizen born in Wisconsin, but her parents are from Mexico. Both parents were undocumented for much of her childhood. Her mother recently obtained a green card. España said she is voting for her parents because they cannot vote themselves. She noted that ICE has been prominent in the news since President Trump returned to office.
Leydi Gonzalez, 23, lives in Texas. Her parents are from El Salvador. She petitioned for their legal status when she turned 21. They now have authorization to stay in the U.S. and are waiting for residency approval. Gonzalez said her family discussed contingency plans for her siblings in case her parents were detained. A high-profile U.S. Senate race in Texas pits Democrat James Talarico against Republican nominee Ken Paxton, with Talarico polling ahead in the reliably red state.
