Erika Andiola facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Erika Andiola
Andiola in 2016
Born	1986–1987 (age 38–39) Mexico
Occupation	Activist

Erika Andiola is an activist from Mexico. She works to help people who have immigrated to the United States. She lives in the Phoenix area. Currently, she is the Chief Advocacy Officer for an organization called RAICES. She has also worked for other groups like Our Revolution and for political campaigns. Her own experiences as an immigrant have inspired much of her work.

Who is Erika Andiola?

Erika Andiola was born in Mexico. When she was 11 years old, in 1998, her mother brought her and her siblings to the United States. They moved from Durango, Mexico.

Early Life and Education

Erika studied at Arizona State University (ASU). She graduated in 2009 with a degree in psychology. While the U.S. Senate was discussing the Dream Act, Erika shared her story. She publicly identified herself as a "Dreamer." This term refers to young undocumented immigrants. In 2012, she received protection from deportation.

Her Work as an Activist

Erika Andiola helped start the Arizona Dream Act Coalition. This group is led by young immigrants. It works to support higher education and immigrant rights. In Arizona, Erika became known for speaking out. She often challenged politicians who supported policies against immigrants. She also served on national committees for the United We Dream Network.

In 2013, something very personal happened. Her mother and brother were held by immigration officers. They were almost deported after a raid at Erika's home. Erika shared a video about her family's situation online. The video quickly became very popular. Because of Erika's hard work with immigration officers, her family was able to stay in the country.

Also in 2013, Erika appeared in a music video. It was called "El Hielo" and was directed by Alex Rivera. Later that year, she began working for Representative Kyrsten Sinema. She started in Phoenix and then moved to Washington, D.C. In 2015, she worked with the Guatemalan consulate. In 2016, she joined the Bernie Sanders campaign for president. She helped with outreach to Latino voters in the Southwest United States.

In 2018, Erika took part in a protest. It was at the Texas State Capitol. The protest was against ending DACA in Texas. DACA is a program that protects young immigrants.

In 2020, Erika and Lucia Allain from RAICES spoke out. They interrupted Joe Biden during a debate. This happened at the Nevada Democratic primary debate.