A day of critical dialogue unfolded at the Disaster Displacement Disparities and Undocumented Migrants Workshop, held in Irvine at the Beckman Center. The workshop, which formed a part of our diversity in academia award request for proposals, was sponsored by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) and hosted by LPPI faculty affiliate Professors Mike Mendez and Belinda Campos, highlighted the heightened vulnerabilities of undocumented migrants in climate-related disasters.

The one-day event, on May 8th, brought together UC Irvine, UCLA LPPI faculty experts, environmental justice and migrant rights advocates, and civic leaders, who delved into a comprehensive discussion on intersectional approaches to disaster policies, shared research findings, and explored potential solutions.

“This workshop represents a deliberate step towards addressing and uplifting the complex challenges faced by undocumented migrants in the wake of climate-induced disasters, said Dr. Michael Mendez co-host of the workshop and Assistant Professor of Environmental Policy & Urban Planning, UC Irvine. “It’s clear that our policies must be as interconnected as the lives they affect, ensuring that every individual, especially the most vulnerable and stigmatized among us, is not just seen but heard and supported.”

At the heart of the workshop’s discussions was the critical role of community trust and support. Reflecting on the day’s rich exchange of ideas, Rosario Majano, research analyst at UCLA LPPI, shared her valuable takeaways:

“The workshop was an incredible convening of experts working at multiple intersections of labor, immigrant rights, and climate justice. A recurring theme that I will take from this workshop is the importance of building trust with affected communities and supporting community-based organizations with the infrastructure and capacity to do so. They are our frontline responders for getting information and resources out to migrant communities and should be included in policy creation and research development.”

Julia Silver, research analyst at UCLA LPPI added, “From ensuring safe working conditions to alleviating negative mental health consequences, to providing language justice to Indigenous communities, today’s event showed us the importance of ensuring that the undocumented migrant population is included, accounted, and cared for.” 

The insights from this workshop will serve as a cornerstone for developing strategies that ensure our communities have a seat at the table in developing disaster preparedness and response policies in California.