Immigrant Of The Day: Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa of Mexico

by Kevin R. Johnson

Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa (Mexico)

The life of Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa is a classic American dream.  Twenty years ago, he hopped a fence from Mexico into the United States and became a migrant farmworker. Today, he is a neurosurgeon and professor at Johns Hopkins University, and a researcher who is looking for a breakthrough in the treatment of brain cancer.

Quinones-Hinojosa's remarkable journey began in a tiny farming community, 60 miles south of the U.S. border, where he was born there.  By age 5, he was working at his father's gas station. His grandmother was a village healer and a midwife.

A graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard Medical School, Quiñones-Hinojosa has been named to Popular Science Magazine's annual Brilliant 10 list.

In sum, Quiñones-Hinojosa began his life in American as an undocumented immigrant farm worker who was able to legalize. He later naturalized and became a U.S. citizen.  He searches for a cure for brain cancer.

NPR did a wonderful story about Quinones-Hinojosa, which includes an interview.

About The Author

Kevin R. Johnson is currently Dean, Professor of Law and Chicana/o Studies, and the Mabie-Apallas Public Interest Law Chair holder at the University of California at Davis. He is also one of the editors of ImmigrationProf Blog.

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