“By ‘We the people,’ I mean every inhabitant of the United States.”

Jesús Velarde-Moctezuma graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Dec. 2022 with a communications major and Spanish minor, and was raised in Milwaukee. He has been a graduate student since Jan. 2023 under the Translation and Interpreting Studies master’s program at UW-Milwaukee. Apart from being a student, he works at the Roberto Hernández Center as a graduate assistant. His objective is to become a immigration lawyer to help low-income families.

Samantha Calderon: If you don’t mind sharing, what is your background and how has your background shaped you into choosing these issues?

Jesús Velarde-Moctezuma: I am Latino and my ethnicity is Mexican. I think it affects me because I have family who do not have legal status and could be deported. If another pandemic were hit, U.S. citizens would be of major concern. I have grandparents who have diabetes and have weaker immune systems; therefore, they hit closer to home. It’s the uncertainty that’s behind it. These issues primarily affect minority communities that do not have the same accessibility to these resources and government aid.

Samantha Calderon: What are your thoughts about Medicare and Medicaid?

Jesús Velarde-Moctezuma: I think these two policies have helped many individuals. I think it’s a good initiative. It’s good for our country to take care and be mindful of those who don’t have the money. There are holes within the policies that can be fixed. I think we can do better to improve these programs to accommodate people who need help.

Samantha Calderon: What would be the ideal situation for immigration in your perspective?

Jesús Velarde-Moctezuma: As someone who is Latino, I would like everybody to obtain U.S. citizenship, but I know this is an unrealistic goal. I envision certainty to those who are not U.S. citizens. They should be able to drive without the fear of being pulled over and possibly getting deported.

Samantha Calderon: What do you think about Illinois providing healthcare for qualified illegal immigrants?

Jesús Velarde-Moctezuma: I think Illinois is similar to Wisconsin according to population. Nevertheless, it is a good initiative. Many states won’t do it for many underlying reasons. If several states can do it, there are ways to accomplish this in other states. People must come together to advocate. We are the people who put the government officials up there. We took time out of our day to vote. I think it’s easy for them to forget we are the people that they’re supposed to be fighting for.

Samantha Calderon: When you mentioned “we the people,” were you referring to people who vote or U.S. citizens?

Jesús Velarde-Moctezuma: U.S. citizens are obliged to vote because their future is in their hands. It’s about moving the country forward. By “we the people,” I meant every inhabitant of the United States. People who are able to vote have the opportunity to give we the people to enjoy a peaceful life. There has to be change within our government from the ground up. If there is no healthcare, people cannot contribute to the economy as much as they do. All these things create a chain reaction that will not be fixed unless the government starts from the bottom. These people will keep working and contributing to the economy, so they should be able to partake in freedom and human rights. These rights should not be reliant on questions such as “are you a U.S. citizen?” or “do you have legal status?” People seek treatment over-the-counter and don’t get proper treatment. These loopholes cause people to not want to vote because they do not see the change. Both issues are major concerns because national and public safety are declining.