Immigration Status Can’t Stop La Santa Cecilia

By Maria Hinojosa, Latino USA

La Santa Cecilia have been making waves in the Latin alternative music scene since the release of their debut album last year, Treinta Dias (“30 Days”). From their collaboration with Elvis Costello to the powerful voice of lead singer Marisol Hernandez, their eventual Grammy win was all but inevitable. But one song in particular had special meaning to the band. “Ice/El Hielo” is about the struggles immigrants must go through, and the fears they face once they make it to the U.S.–immigrants like the band’s own undocumented accordion player, Pepe Carlos. Reporter Valerie Hamilton spoke to the band members to find out how they use their platform to speak openly about what being undocumented means in this country.

Contributors

Valerie Hamilton is an independent producer. She reports on issues on and around the U.S-Mexico border for U.S. and European public media. She’s based in Los Angeles.

This article was originally published in Latino USA.