JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – Students, faith leaders, and community advocates converged on the Missouri State Capitol this week to participate in the annual Hispanic Capitol Day, a nonpartisan event aimed at raising awareness of issues affecting the state’s Hispanic communities. The gathering, held on and , 2026, comes amid heightened concerns over federal immigration enforcement and its impact on Hispanic residents, even those with legal status.
Approximately 200 participants, representing diverse organizations across Missouri, met with state legislators to discuss a range of legislative priorities. These included opposition to Senate Bill 1070 (SB1070), which proposes stricter immigration enforcement measures, including the potential creation of a “bounty hunter” program and the identification of state-owned property for use as a detention center. Advocates also voiced support for House Bill 2522 (HB2522), which would expand professional licensure access to individuals with federal employment authorization, and House Bill 2063 (HB2063), calling for state materials to be available in Spanish upon request.
The event underscored a growing sense of unease within Missouri’s Hispanic communities, fueled by increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence nationwide and reports of heightened enforcement activity, even impacting documented citizens and legal residents. “We have to speak up more for ourselves, especially as ICE continues to arrest Hispanics – and not just people who are undocumented, but people who are documented, born in this country,” said Max Bender, a volunteer with the St. Louis Hispanic Festival organization, as reported by St. Louis Public Radio. While St. Louis itself has not been explicitly targeted by the federal crackdown, concerns remain due to agreements between some local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.
Beyond legislative advocacy, Hispanic Capitol Day served as a platform for sharing personal stories and experiences with lawmakers. Students from Catholic high schools in the St. Louis area played a prominent role, bringing a theological and ethical dimension to the discussions. Four students – Harper Searcy, Lilly Buster, Gabriela Mendoza, all juniors at Nerinx Hall, and Sydney Moore, a senior at St. Joseph’s Academy – engaged directly with legislators, articulating concerns rooted in Catholic social teaching.
“It’s simple biblical teaching: Love your neighbor as yourself,” said Lilly Buster, emphasizing the moral imperative to protect vulnerable populations. Sydney Moore highlighted the seven tenets of Catholic social teaching, particularly the “life and dignity of the human person” and the “preferential option for the poor,” as guiding principles in her advocacy. “There’s the life and dignity of the human person, recognizing that every single life, because it is God-given, has worth and meaning,” she explained. “And also the preferential option for the poor: We have a responsibility as Catholics to look out for those in need, and that cannot always necessarily just be a charity standpoint; it has be an act of solidarity.”
The participation of Emily Roth, principal of St. Cecilia School in St. Louis, underscored the event’s focus on the contributions of Hispanic families to Missouri’s social fabric. “It is important to me that lawmakers understand the many contributions Hispanic families make — to our parishes, our schools, our workforce and our neighborhoods,” Roth stated. Her presence reflected a broader effort to counter misinformation and foster understanding during a period of heightened political polarization.
Guadalupe Hilario, a student from the Catholic Student Center at Washington University in St. Louis, emphasized the importance of unity and dialogue in addressing the challenges facing the Hispanic community. “With everything going on in politics and the polarization we see every day, I think it’s important to create unity and stand up for each other,” she said. Hilario shared her personal experience as the daughter of immigrants, hoping to humanize the debate and challenge prevailing stereotypes.
The event also highlighted the importance of local engagement. Gabriela Mendoza, a Nerinx Hall student, expressed a newfound appreciation for the impact individuals can have at the state level. “I’ve always thought of politics on a federal, nationwide level,” she said. “I kind of forget how much impact you can make in your state or very locally, in your neighborhood, in your city.”
Hispanic Capitol Day, an annual tradition for over two decades, represents a sustained effort by Missouri’s Hispanic communities and their allies to ensure their voices are heard in the state’s political discourse. The 2026 iteration, however, took place against a backdrop of increased federal scrutiny and anxieties surrounding immigration enforcement, underscoring the urgency of the issues at stake. The event’s success will be measured not only by the immediate legislative outcomes but also by its ability to foster ongoing dialogue and build bridges between lawmakers and the communities they represent.
