09/25/2026
❤️ We Are Here
This has been weighing heavy on our hearts.
What is happening right now with ICE and immigration enforcement is affecting families from many different countries and backgrounds. But when we look around Southwest Kansas, we don't see countries or immigration status.
We see people. We see families. We see our neighbors.
They live here. They work here. They raise their children here. They farm, work in our plants, feedyards and dairies, teach, start businesses, and work hard for the American Dream.
Our kids grow up together. We sit beside each other at school activities and community events. We work alongside one another and help each other when life gets hard.
This is home.
We know there are strong feelings about immigration, ICE, laws, and policies. This isn't about asking anyone to change what they believe. It's about remembering that behind every headline are real people and real families, and right now, some of those families are scared.
For me, this is personal. I was born in Mexico. My parents made their own journey into the unknown, scared of what was ahead, because they wanted a better life for our family. I will forever be thankful for the sacrifices they made and the life they worked so hard to give us.
“As an immigrant, I learned that the dream is achievable, but it requires hard work and sacrifice.” – Marco Rubio
Everyone has a story, and we rarely know the whole thing.
We don't have to agree on every political issue to have compassion. We don't have to come from the same country or share the same story to care when someone in our community is hurting.
They are here. We are here.
We are neighbors.
We are families.
We are Southwest Kansas. ❤️
When part of our community is hurting, I hope we never become so divided that we forget how to simply care for one another.
