Valentine’s Day, traditionally a time to celebrate love and connection, has in recent years become a powerful platform for advocating for immigrant rights. As individuals across the country come together to show love for their partners and families, activists have begun using this holiday to express solidarity with immigrants—those who contribute so much to society yet often face the greatest adversity. By tying the message of love to the fight for justice and equality, these actions remind us that showing love means supporting those who need it most, especially within our immigrant communities.
Read on to discover how activists have shown love to our immigrant neighbors in recent years.
Photo: Times Square Alliance
2017
The winner of the 2017 Times Square Valentine Heart Design competition highlighted what the artists called the “heart” of New York City: immigrants. The installation, titled We Were Strangers Once, Too, created by the Brooklyn-based Office of Creative Research, was inspired by President Obama’s 2014 speech on immigration reform. This striking public data sculpture sent a clear message: immigrants are the foundation of New York’s success.
The art installation featured 33 metal poles inscribed with the national origins of foreign-born residents from throughout the five boroughs. From a distance, the poles formed a single, vibrant red and pink heart. Co-designer Jer Thorp described the piece as a “strong political statement in the busiest space in the world”. Genevieve Hoffman, another designer on the project, hoped it would encourage conversations about diversity and inclusion amid shifting immigration policies. By showcasing the vital role of immigrants in shaping New York, the installation served as both a work of art and a call for unity.
2022
Activist and influencer Carlos Eduardo Espina made a bold move to use Valentine’s Day 2022 as the backdrop for a protest that highlighted the vital role immigrants play in America. His campaign, “Day Without Immigrants”, echoed the sentiments of similar protests held in years prior and aimed to show society just how essential immigrants are to the everyday functioning of American society.
By encouraging immigrants and their allies to take the day off, whether from work, school, or shopping, Espina sought to send a stark reminder of what the country would look like without the millions of immigrants who help drive its economy. The idea wasn’t new, however. Back in 2017, a similar protest in Washington, D.C. had a huge impact, closing over 100 restaurants as part of the Day Without Immigrants strike. The message was loud and clear: without immigrants, the country would struggle to function. Espina’s protest wasn’t just about one day, it was about continuing a long-standing, ongoing conversation: who are we without immigrants?
Photo: Washingtonian
Photo: American Friends Service Committee
2023
During the week of February 14, 2023, communities across the country came together to advocate for immigrant justice, declaring “love knows no borders, walls, or cages”. Activists held demonstrations at immigrant detention centers, jails, and other sites connected to detention and deportation, calling for an end to policies that criminalize and incarcerate immigrants. These protesters specifically demanded the termination of Title 42, which gave the U.S. government the legal right to remove individuals from the country on the basis of health concerns, and any policy that prevented individuals from exercising their right to seek asylum.
In addition to protests, organizers delivered Valentine’s Day cards and banners to those held in detention, showing solidarity with those separated from their loved ones. Kristin Kumpf, Director of Human Migration and Mobility for the American Friends Service Committee, emphasized the movement’s goals, “We are demanding the right to asylum, an end to the militarization of border communities, cuts in the federal budget for immigration enforcement, and meaningful investment in all our communities.” Through these actions, advocates sent a clear message that love and justice must extend to all, especially those impacted by the immigration system.
Ongoing
The I Stand With Immigrants/I Am An Immigrant Initiative launched #ToImmigrantsWithLove in 2022, a national digital letter-writing and photo-sharing initiative to show support for immigrant communities. The campaign received overwhelming engagement, generating nearly 2.5 million impressions on Twitter within 24 hours and inspiring thousands of letters of appreciation. Across the country, individuals, organizations, and government officials participated in events celebrating immigrants' contributions.
Photo: Amanda Saviñón
Letter-writing pop-ups took place in major cities, including New York, Denver, Chicago, and Atlanta. In Times Square, hundreds mailed postcards as part of the Love in Times Square celebration. Colleges, including Brown University and Pomona College, hosted their own on-campus events. In Denver, Lieutenant Governor Donna Lynne and Speaker Crisanta Duran honored immigrants' impact, and in Atlanta, state representatives joined community members at the Capitol to share messages of love. The campaign highlighted the resilience and contributions of immigrants, reaffirming that America’s strength lies in its diversity.
While the in-person letter writing was held back in 2022, the #ToImmigrantsWithLove hashtag is still live and the I Stand With Immigrants/I Am An Immigrant Initiative continues to advocate for the rights of immigrants. Click here to learn more about the initiative, their mission, and what they’re doing today.