Latino Organizations are Increasing their Efforts to Protect Immigrants

Amid an increasingly hostile climate toward immigrant communities in the United States, two organizations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, remain steadfast in their commitment to accompany and protect the most vulnerable Latino families. The Latino Community Center (LCC) and Casa San José continue to be essential pillars for thousands of people facing fear, deportation, and precariousness in the face of new immigration policies.

Maratón Marigold 5K a beneficio del Latino Community Center / Marigold 5K Fundraiser for Latino Community Center

Latino Community Center

For Rosamaría Cristello, founder and executive director of the Latino Community Center, 2025 has been “a very difficult year,” forcing the organization to focus its efforts on the safety and well-being of families.

“At the beginning of the year, we held family preparation clinics with the University of Pittsburgh to help parents think about what would happen to their children if they were detained,” she explained. “It was hard, but necessary. We prepared the documents in Spanish and, in a way, gave our families some peace of mind.”

The Center also reinforced the security of its programs and temporarily suspended activities in several parts of Allegheny County.

“It was not a time to grow, but to focus on survival,” Cristello emphasized. Even so, the LCC maintained its After School program, supported 23 young people in their entry into college, and continued to provide emotional support spaces for children and adolescents.

“The world may be on fire, but we focus on them: what they like, what they dream of, what they want to be,” he added.

Among the year’s achievements is the securing of $1.6 million in state funds to build a Youth Center at its headquarters. “It will be a space designed by them, where they can study, learn technology, and feel safe,” said Cristello. Currently, the LCC serves between 1,800 and 2,000 families a year, mainly from Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, and Ecuador.

Casa San José

For its part, Casa San José, directed by Mónica Ruiz, has intensified its work in response to the impact of deportations.

Gira de programa juvenil de Casa San Jose. / Field trip for Casa San José youth program.

“We are seeing many single women with children whose husbands have been deported and who don’t know what to do,” she said. “That’s why we created Madres Fuertes, a house where they can live for free for a while and plan their future without worrying about rent or food.”

The organization also expanded its Rapid Response network, made up of more than 500 volunteers who respond when immigration agents carry out operations.

“Sometimes 20, 30, or even 70 people show up; their mere presence can cause Immigration to retreat. In other cases, we at least get the names of those who were detained so we can contact their families, which strengthens our advocacy work,” Ruiz explained. Casa San José also offers health, education, and job training programs.

“We have doctors, dentists, English and technology courses; we even give computers to students who complete the course,” he added.Looking ahead to 2026, the organization will move to its new building in Beechview, a $6.3 million investment.

“We want a place where Latinos feel safe. We are living in difficult times, but we must not let ourselves be defeated. We are strong, we are intelligent, and we contribute enormously to this city,” said Ruiz.

Despite the challenges, the Latino Community Center and Casa San José continue to be a source of support and hope for thousands of immigrants who struggle every day to get ahead.