By Claudia Amaro/ Planeta Venus
María Retana arrived in Wichita, Kansas, in 2001 as a minor. Like many immigrants, her family settled in the city in search of a better future. She is the youngest and the only girl among five siblings.
Retana benefited from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an executive order established by President Barack Obama in 2012. This measure allowed her to improve her quality of life, as she shared with Planeta Venus:
“DACA changed my life tremendously. It allowed me to get a better job, buy my house and my car. It’s truly an amazing opportunity for those who have it. My mom filled out the forms for my brother and me, and it changed our lives.”
On January 20, Donald Trump took office as the 47th president of the United States for a second term after winning the November 2024 election. During his first week in office, he signed several executive orders that caused fear among immigrant communities, including announcements of mass immigration raids across different parts of the country. The uncertainty spread quickly, fueled by false and misleading information circulating on social media groups.
On Wednesday, January 22, Retana received a call from her childhood best friend, Carolina. Concerned about the lack of reliable information and the growing spread of false messages, Carolina came up with the idea of printing cards with essential information about immigrants’ rights. The so-called “red cards” contain key details to help immigrants exercise their rights when encountering immigration officials.
Both women decided to take action and, using money from their own pockets, printed the first 4,000 cards. They went out to Wichita’s north side, handing them to people on the streets and outside businesses. “We heard rumors that there would be raids in that area, and we wanted to make sure people knew their rights and could protect themselves,” said Carolina, who preferred not to share her full name, emphasizing that this was a community effort.
To expand the initiative’s reach, Retana posted on social media that they had these cards available and even shared the receipt of the printing costs. Her transparency inspired community members to donate, raising a total of $1,100. With this support, they printed another 20,000 cards on Friday, and about 20 more volunteers joined them in distributing them, covering more areas of Wichita and even rural communities. By Saturday, nearly 35,000 cards had been printed.
Retana recalled that many people were fearful when receiving the cards. One young man, in particular, reminded her of the years she had spent feeling afraid while having to be her parents’ voice.
“Unfortunately, this new generation of young people will have to face that same fear, but they must be prepared,” she said.
The cards were printed from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) website. Retana and Carolina hope this initiative will provide the immigrant community with the tools they need to protect themselves and stand strong. Retana also calls on young U.S.-born Latinos to take action:
“It’s never too late to act, never too late to stand up for your people. If young Latino citizens don’t take action, don’t speak up, don’t vote—I don’t think anyone else will. The time is now.”
Red cards can be found at the following locations in Wichita:
| Bills Charcoal Grill | Arkansas | North |
| El Fogón | Arkansas | North |
| Churros El Carnaval | 21st | North |
| Iglesia Perpetuo Socorro | Market | North |
| Las Adelitas Coffee Co | 2nd | Downtown |
| Juarez Bakery | Waco | North |
| Molinos | Waco | North |
| Olivas Articulos Personalizados y Paquetería | Waco | North |
| María Bonita | Waco | North |
| Tapatia | Seneca | South |
| ICT Headgear | 21st | North |
| Tacos La Jarochita | 21st | North |
| Gorditas Corrales Durango | 21st | North |
| Tienda del Río | Seneca | South |
| Pollo Express | Meridian | South |
| Gabys Peruvian | Seneca | South |
| Taqueria Alteña | Seneca | South |
| Tienda del Ahorro | 31st | South |
| El Capitán | Hillside | East |
| Lina’s Restaurant | Central | East |
| Gorditas Express | Harry | South |
| La Tlaxcalteña | Harry | South |
| Gorditas Torres | Harry | South |
| Hermanos Tires | Harry | South |
| El Fogon 1 | Harry | South |
| La Chona | Harry | South |
| Gomez Tires | Seneca | West |
| TacoFajita | Seneca | West |
| Los Pinos | West | |
| El Tucanazo | Seneca | West |
| El Guero | Douglas & 2nd | West |
| Ricardos | West | |
| Tacos TJ | Central | West |
| Tacos Y más | Kellogg & Oliver | South |
| La Guelaguetza | Hillside | South |
| Tienda Salvadoreña | Hillside | South |
| Family First Insurance | 21st & Amidon | North |
| Fabiola’s hair salon | West | West |
| Paquetería Los Amigos | Arkansas | North |
| Paleteria La Fuente | Broadway | North |
| WSU | 21st | East |
| Evergreen Library | Arkansas | North |
| Rodriguez Fashions | Waco | North |
| ELatino Hot Dogs | Broadway | North |
| Jaliscos Taqueria | 21st | North |
| Pupuseria El Torogoz | Seneca | South |
| Lalos Express | Seneca | South |
| El Manzano | Seneca&Harry | South |
| Delicias de El Salvador | Seneca&Harry | South |
| Tacos Mexican | Seneca&Harry | South |
| Mi México Lindo Market | Arkansas | North |
| Patricia Torres Taxes | 13 & Amidon | North |
| Laguna Sounds | Meridia | South |
| Tienda Martinez | 23 & Arkansas | North |
| Capital Barbershop | Central & Maize | West |
This article was republished here with the permission of: Planeta Venus