Our Moment to Rise: Science, Justice, and Moral Courage

As a scientist, I’ve always tried to keep politics out of my communications, whether in public speeches, my Latinos in STEMM Rising newsletter, or on social media.

But sometimes, facts speak so loudly that silence is no longer an option.

I am Latina and proudly support Latinos.

I believe in our power to strengthen this country that we love. A country that has given many of us the chance to thrive.

And when real harm happens, it’s not just opinion; it is our responsibility to speak up.

Here are just a few things that are happening right now:

First, we are witnessing an alarming disregard for science and public health.

• Stripping expert vaccine guidance is reckless.

• Appointing leaders who deny science and reject expert advice puts lives at risk.

• Undermining the independence of academic institutions and scientists erodes our collective knowledge and public trust.

Second, we see cruelty being embraced as a guiding principle in policy-making.

• Sending ICE into elementary schools crosses a line of basic decency.

• Taking children from their parents is trauma, not policy.

• Detaining pregnant women and rescinding special provisions for babies and the elderly is inhumane.

Third, Targeting Communities by Race or Status

• Targeting people based on skin color or perceived status is racist and wrong.

• Federal agents using ruses (aka lying) may be appropriate to lure criminals into specific locations, not to invade law-abiding people’s homes.

• Encouraging divisive rhetoric targeting Hispanics, Muslims, Black, or any other minority group promotes fear instead of unity.

Fourth, support systems for the most vulnerable are being dismantled.

• Cutting budgets for equitable education initiatives in underserved schools and for Programs that serve vulnerable communities deepens inequality and limits opportunity.

We are experiencing a growing loss of moral compass—a pattern of policies driven by fear, racism, and ignorance that divide and dehumanize.

And the scary part? We’ve been here before.

We saw it in the forced removal of Native American communities, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Jim Crow laws, and 1930s Germany, where policy turned people into targets because of their race or heritage.

These were not just political decisions. They were moral failures. We cannot afford to repeat them.

Immigration is a complex issue. But that complexity does not justify cruelty.

I believe in immigration reform, law enforcement, and security. I also believe in humanity, dignity, and justice.

We can have both. We must demand both.

Thank you for reading and caring.