Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) is the first naturalized American from Mexico to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona. For many, his story embodies the American Dream, “my father drove a bus, and now I am serving in Congress.”
Our America: Tell us about yourself and the challenges you overcame to achieve what seems to be the American Dream?
Rep. Ciscomani: It’s been a great journey for our family. My wife comes from an immigrant family, as well. We have six beautiful kids we are raising right here in the community that I grew up in and now represent. This is the community that welcomed my family and me when we moved to the U.S. and we went through our journey of immigration. And now, as you mentioned, we are, in many ways, living the American Dream.
My dad drove a bus for most of his work life here in the U.S., he retired recently, and he always says, “Where else in the world could we have our story?” We came to the country, we immersed ourselves in the culture, and we learned English. We went through the long process of becoming U.S. citizens. My dad says, “I drive a bus, and now my son has the opportunity to serve in the United States Congress. Where else in the world could we have that opportunity?”
WATCH OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH REP. JUAN CISCOMANI
And there have been some challenges along the way, but it’s all about perspective. Do we take those challenges and feel sorry for ourselves and say, “Oh, poor me.” Or do we actually do something with that, use it as fuel and and as a point to launch to reach your goals?”
Our America: What are the biggest challenges Latino Americans face today in achieving the American Dream, particularly over the past four years of the Biden-Harris administration?
Rep. Ciscomani: The American Dream looks very unique and different to each person. It’s whatever you want to make of it. If you ask my dad, it was about giving us an opportunity to come here and build our own future and life.
When you look at families, why they move, why they come here to America, mine included, it is for better jobs for the parents, better school for the kids, and neighborhoods where you can grow up and feel safe. But those three things have been under real threat under this administration, specifically the economic one. Things are so expensive, it makes it harder to start a business. These things impact people’s abilities to be able to achieve their American Dream.
Our America: Recent polls, including ones by NBC News and the New York Times show Black and Hispanic Americans are really moving away from their historic political allegiances, and they’re moving towards the conservative candidates.. What do you think is going on here?
Rep. Ciscomani: Hispanics want results. We want things that work. The rhetoric gets old, and people tell you they’re going to do something for you and then they just don’t do anything that actually helps and benefits. People catch on to that eventually. And I think that’s what’s happening right now.
Many in the Hispanic community are asking themselves, “When was my life better?” We come here for that American Dream so we can have economic freedom and pursue our dreams. And that just seems kind of out of reach right now, and it’s getting worse and worse.
One side tries to tell us, “Oh, everything’s going to be okay.” Those are nice feelings, but they don’t pay the bills. We have to make sure that we put forward policies that work.
I think the Hispanic community is moving away from a traditional Democratic straight down the line vote. But it doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily flocking to be Republicans, either. The thing is that the Hispanic community wants results and I think that the GOP right now has a great opportunity to show that it can deliver results.
Our America: As a Hispanic myself, I know that our culture places enormous emphasis on families, hard work and education, and those are some of the foundational values of the conservative movement as well. How can the conservative world do a better job of reaching out to Hispanics and bringing them in where we know we have common ground and common values?
Rep. Ciscomani: We need to be willing to work with both sides to find solutions. That’s what the majority of the public wants. That’s certainly what the Hispanic community wants. We need to talk about the things we have in common, more than things that separate us. And I think we’re going to be in a much better place. So we have to be positive. We have to be happy warriors.
We have to get out there and talk about the American Dream and all those opportunities that so many people have been able to take advantage of in this country, whether they’re immigrants or not, everyone should have an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams.
