Biography
César Miguel Rivera Vega Magallón is a formerly-undocumented migrant advocate, organizer and activist. César Miguel became a community organizer and advocate in 2008 at age 18, initiating and fighting for various initiatives anchored on improving the lives of migrants, people of color, and other marginalized groups and advancing cultural and artistic endeavors for marginalized, hard to reach and historically underserved communities. An award-winning advocate and author, his work with Antelope Valley Dream Team (AVDT) forms part of the Smithsonian Archive of American History while his writings are cited and utilized in classrooms across the world, for example, in Duke University Press publications and scholarly publications from the University of Graz in Austria.
Having returned to California in 2024, César Miguel continues his advocacy work on behalf of migrants and marginalized peoples in the California and his work as a museum-exhibited artist and internationally published author.
Education
Art History, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Dean's List
A.A. Liberal Arts & Sciences, Antelope Valley College (AVC), Summa Cum Laude
Skills
Awards
- Legislature Honor from Assembly of the State of California for Service to the Community (2013)
- Winner, fiction for the essay "We, Saracens". Things I'll Never Say, national contest. Immigrants Rising (E4FC)
Recent Publications
Authored Books
Juvenilia Tapatía, In the Manner of Agustín Yáñez 2013-24, #1 in Historical Latin American Biography & Mexico History
Androtauromaquia, best seller in Hispanic American Poetry
Articles & Features
"La terquedad de los mazapanes," Nexos (International, 2024)
"Return to the Invented Country: A Theory of Return Migration," Harper Collins/Harper Via (International, 2021)
"My Faith in San Judas, San Sebastián, and the Queerness of the Church," Colorbloq (USA, 2018)
"There is no abolishing ICE without restorative justice for the deported," Prism Reports (2021).
"Under Biden, Migrants Continue Fighting for the Right to Return to the U.S.," In These Times (2021).
"Frustrated immigration activists target Democrats," Orange Country Register (2014).
"AB 60 applicants encouraged to seek assistance before…" — Asian Journal (2015).
"After Writing Blistering Letter, Undocumented Activists Invite Jose Antonio Vargas to Honest Dialogue About Immigration" Latino Rebels (2014).
Professional Experience
Mexico Advocacy Fellow - The Rhizome Center for Migrants
As Mexico advocacy fellow I was involved in advocacy projects and coordination bi-nationally on issues related to the deported and their families in Mexico. Projects included: organization of live chats with participation from government officials (State of Jalisco, Secretaría de Educación Pública (federal), Interamerican Court and Commission of Human Rights, Los Angeles County Public Defender) and key organizations (Interamerican Organization of Psychiatry, Kino Border Initiative, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project) and affected community members and their families on innovative legal and policy topics, coordination with the office of Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Human Rights Watch for a Congressional hearing on de-facto deported U.S.-citizen children in Mexico, narrative crafting & capacity building for allied organizations, the drafting and circulation of open letters to influence U.S. legislation, and assistance in the execution of visiting law student program.
Prevention Coordinator & Project Director - Pueblo y Salud
As director and project coordinator, my responsibilities included the maintenance of relations with project funders. local elected and appointed officials and the media, organization of community events and press networks, as well as as well as the supervision of staff towards the achievement of grant objectives for various projects. Non-exhaustive list of managed projects for the organization during my tenure: efforts to promote rights and increase social integration of Latin American immigrants in California; targeted electoral reforms (CVRA) to increase voter participation by voters of color to achieve more equitable results at the polls; reform, monitoring, enforcement and passing of laws and municipal regulations on alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids and amphetamines to improve health outcomes across communities without adverse effects or criminalization.
President - AV League of United Latin American Citizens Chapter #3249
As president of the organization my tasks included the implementation and development of campaigns in conjunction with state and national coalitions, and the direction of campaigns to improve the social and economic conditions of Latinos in the Antelope Valley. I served as the National and State representative and delegate for the State and National organizations of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Get in Touch
Thank you!
Your message has been sent successfully.