A photograph taken on July 17, 2026, shows the artwork “La Llorona” painted by Tita Flores, director of the art program “La Ristra,” in Tucson, Arizona (USA). Art has become a refuge for migrant families living in constant fear of deportation in Arizona, where the “La Ristra” program brings painting classes to their homes to offer them respite from the immigration policies of President Donald Trump’s administration. EFE/María León
Tucson (USA), July 27 (EFE) – Art has become a refuge for migrant families living in constant fear of deportation in Arizona, where the ‘La Ristra’ program brings painting classes to their homes to offer them respite from the immigration policies of President Donald Trump’s administration.
“The immigrant community is under intense pressure, experiencing great distress, and they feel powerless because these are external forces that they cannot control,” Tita Flores, founder and director of the program, told EFE.
Created in 2025 and funded by donations, the project began in a church in downtown Tucson, Arizona, amid an increase in raids by immigration agents.
However, Flores explains that as the presence of immigration officials increased on the streets, near schools or in shopping centers, she was forced to change her strategy.
“We go (now) to their homes, we bring the necessary materials so that the children and parents can work,” she explains.
She explains that she offers help to families and that those who accept generally do so primarily for their children, who often do not understand the situation their parents are experiencing.
“Through drawings, strokes, and colors, children find a form of expression, and the same is true for parents,” he said.
The program’s founder said she has seen progress in the children after the classes: “Their behavior changed, they paid more attention in school, and their relationship with their parents improved,” she says.
“Psychological terror”
Fear among migrants is rising as detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increase, with the agency reporting nearly 43,000 arrests in June, more than 1,400 a day, a record since the start of Trump’s second administration.
Immigration arrests in Arizona tripled in 2025, with more than 6,000, the seventh highest figure in the state, according to an analysis by the organization CALÓ News and the media outlet Arizona Luminaria.
In this context, the artist believes that the immigrant community in this country is experiencing real “psychological terror” due to immigration operations, and therefore, she affirms, it is more necessary than ever to pay attention to the mental health of the affected families.
She explains that migrant families need legal and financial support to cover expenses such as rent and food, but also emotional support to cope with the pressure and fear that, she says, they are experiencing.
“Beauty is free, art is another way to feed the soul, sometimes it is the greatest motivation to soothe our spirit,” Flores said.
Art: an escape for migrants
One of the beneficiaries of this program is Irma, an immigrant of Mexican origin who asked that her last name be omitted.
The woman, who has been living illegally in the United States for more than two decades, says she has found relief from her problems through the program.
“It’s hard to explain, when you pick up the paintbrush, you combine the colors, for a moment you stop thinking about your problems, you relax, you are transported to another place,” he said.
The immigrant, who learned about the program through friends, indicated that she has found a lot of support in this group.
The ristra refers to the braided fabric made by joining freshly harvested green chiles together to hang them up and leave them to dry in places like New Mexico.
“As its name ‘La Ristra’ suggests, it finds a family link that supports us and connects you with your roots,” said the immigrant.
“For me it is something very precious, it has helped me morally, it is something we need, it helps me to share my problems,” she emphasized.
She indicated that, due to the increase in immigration operations, her children are afraid of her going out on the street, but this program has helped her to face these fears.
Flores said that among her plans is to establish an art exhibit where the community can admire the work they have done.
María León
