EL REBUSQUE

My project seeks to rehumanize Latinx people by documenting the everyday life, including the hustle—the rebusque—that defines our resilience. This work is a call for empathy, a challenge to harmful narratives, and a tribute to the dignity of Latinx life.

“El rebusque" is a commonly used term in Colombia that refers to individuals hustling outside of the traditional, regulated economic system. This includes a range of informal activities, including street vending and day labor. Colombia is one of the countries in South America with the highest rate of informal employment. 

As someone from Los Angeles, I have witnessed a similar informal economy flourish throughout my life, particularly within the immigrant population. Over a third of the county’s residents are immigrants, and more than a quarter of this population is undocumented. Among immigrants in Los Angeles, Latinos are more likely to be undocumented than any other racial or ethnic group. 

The recent ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants labeled as “criminal aliens” reflect a deepening institutionalized stigma that enables this state sanctioned violence. Anti-immigrant, xenophobic arguments often stem from places of fear: that immigrants are taking jobs away or increasing crime. In reality, immigrants play key roles across industries, and contribute to economic growth. Simply entering the country without proper documentation is not a criminal act—it’s a civil offense. Yet, it is often treated and spoken about as a crime. This kind of routine, derogatory language—amplified by media and policy—has led to escalating violence and dehumanization of immigrant communities. In September 2025, a Supreme Court ruling legitimized the use of racial profiling to conduct large scale immigration raids in Los Angeles. Across the city, I see various posters of human beings that have been kidnapped.

I am developing a project that aims to rehumanize Latinx immigrant communities by documenting the everyday hustle—the rebusque—that defines our resilience. Using images from the United States, my birth country, and my mother’s home country of Colombia, I want to draw visual parallels between two places shaped by migration, struggle, and ingenuity. I'd also like to include images from Mexico, the leading country of origin for immigrants in California. This project will center the creative ways we survive and thrive—how, no matter where we are, we innovate, we work, we provide, and we find moments of joy. Through this work, I hope to build empathy, challenge harmful narratives, and honor the dignity and humanity of those often left out of the frame.