Mar 02 2025 39 mins
Danielle Vaughan is the eldest daughter of immigrant parents from Peru. Though she was born in the US she was raised in Peru from the age of six until she left for college at Stanford. Surprisingly, that wouldn’t be her last time living in Peru or her last time moving back to the U.S.
We talked with Danielle about the important role her mother has played in shaping her life, exposing her kids to Peruvian culture, and how finding your people can make settling into a new country so much easier. Danielle is also a dear friend of Claudia, and she shares the peculiar way in which they met.
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About the Hosts:
Luciana and Claudia Valdiviezo know what it’s like to move to the U.S. – twice. They were born in Peru and lived there for only a few years until their parents moved the family to the U.S. The sisters kept in touch with their roots, speaking Spanish at home and every Christmas when they visited Peru for the holidays. Then, when they were 12 and 11 respectively, the family moved back to Peru. Growing up both Peruvian and American during those formative years gave Luciana and Claudia a deep understanding of what it means to belong, and not belong, at the same time.
The sisters eventually moved back to the U.S. Luciana is a marketing professional living in Washington D.C. with her husband and two young children. Claudia is a writer living in New York City.
Immigration Resources:
National Immigrant Justice Center
NIJC fights all forms of injustice that undocumented immigrants face—from employment discrimination and abuse to overly punitive enforcement measures that break up families.
National Immigration Law Center
NILC strives to protect and improve immigrant rights. In the past, they’ve stopped workplace discrimination, provided due process rights for detained migrants, and helped end state-backed racial profiling.
IAN provides legal services and works to build a more robust legal community for undocumented immigrants by supporting local groups and facilitating regional collaborations.
FFF works to protect families from deportation. The group is made up of people deeply familiar with the plight of the undocumented.
Mariposas Sin Fronteras (Butterflies Without Borders)
Based in Tucson, Arizona, Mariposas Sin Fronteras works to defend transgender and LGBT+ immigrants from detention and deportation through moral, legal, and economic support. Their latest updates are on Instagram.
Based out of San Diego but operating along the Texas-Mexico border, Border Angels leaves water bottles along trafficking routes, provides immigration consultations, and organizes community events.
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights
The Young Center focuses on providing services to the children of immigrants and has advocated for the creation of a dedicated juvenile immigrant justice system.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
CHIRLA does it all: it organizes protests, provides legal services, and informs undocumented immigrants of their rights.
International Rescue Committee
With locations all over the world, the IRC aims to help people whose lives and livelihoods are impacted by conflict and disaster. They are currently working to bridge federal funding gaps in housing, health care, and other immigration services.
The largest immigrant youth-led organization. Their site provides information and opportunities for advocacy, as well as tactical information on protecting yourself in the event of an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid.
Taking a hyper-local approach, Welcoming America helps residents prosper by fully participating in economic, social, and civic opportunities, while reducing barriers to participation for immigrants and refugees.
This Jewish-led advocacy group has grown into an international resource for refugees, with services that include record searches, citizenship preparation, legal protection, and finding training/employment opportunities.
US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
A large organization with services that include health care, access to human services, educational resources, and legal representation.
Their immigrants’ rights page is especially relevant for those seeking information, with blogs, videos, and current court cases related to immigration.
Immigration Advocates, Nonprofit Resource Center
An informational resource with podcasts, webinars, and an extensive directory of local agencies, searchable by an interactive map which you can also sort by detention facility.
The Public Law Center (California)
This pro bono law firm provides access to justice for low-income and vulnerable residents in the Orange County area.
Access California (California)
Focusing on Arab-American and Muslim-American communities, Access California offers a wide range of services, from case management and immigration to employment and emergency financial assistance.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network
“Embracing the Gospel value of welcoming the stranger,” it features an extensive network of programs and focuses on vulnerable groups, including dislocated families and victims of trafficking and/or domestic violence.