Miami first-time voter motivated by deportation, abortion rights and economy

A 21-year-old nursing student at Florida International University is preparing to vote for the first time in the 2026 midterm elections, driven by personal experiences and concerns about immigration, abortion rights and the economy, CBS News Miami reported.

The student, born in Spain to Peruvian parents who immigrated to Miami nearly two decades ago, became a U.S. citizen last year and registered to vote immediately after her naturalization ceremony, according to CBS News Miami.

One of her main motivations is the recent deportation of her aunt, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in July and later deported to Peru after spending a month in a New Orleans detention facility. This experience has caused ongoing fear for her family’s safety, leading her parents to advise her to always carry her passport.

In addition to immigration, she is concerned about abortion rights following the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which she views as particularly relevant given her nursing career aspirations. Economic issues also factor into her voting decision, CBS News Miami noted.

She described voting as a responsibility to herself, her family, and her country, emphasizing the personal nature of this election for her and her community in Miami.