Kristen Torres (Former Staff) Senior Policy Advisor, Immigration and Child Welfare

Kristen is the Senior Policy Advisor for Immigration and Child Welfare at First Focus on Children where she leads the cross-sector federal policy work that impacts migrant children and children of immigrants. In addition, her focus includes issues related to the domestic foster care system and preventing child abuse and neglect. Kristen leads the State Policy Advocacy & Reform Center (SPARC), a coalition of state child welfare policy advocates.
Prior to joining First Focus, Kristen earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She was a HRSA grant recipient and selected for a competitive policy fellowship in Washington D.C. As an undergraduate, she completed her field practicum at the Hinds County Public Defender’s office in Jackson, Mississippi where she advocated for policy changes related to mental health, criminal justice reform, and family economics. Before finishing her bachelor’s degree, Kristen worked in healthcare for long-term and memory care patients.
Fact Sheet: The Public Charge Rule Harms Children (Updated)
Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald (Former Staff), Jonny Yao (Former Staff), Kristen Torres (Former Staff), Rachel Merker (Former Staff) | February 6, 2020 |
The strength of our country’s economic future is dependent on the wellbeing of our children, who make up our future workforce and tax base. …
Press Conference: The Threat of the Public Charge Rule to America’s Children
Kristen Torres (Former Staff), Michele Kayal | August 16, 2019 |
The Trump Administration’s public charge rule, published August 14, 2019, targets family-based immigration and specifically singles out children. First Focus on Children hosted a …
Explainer: What to Know About the Final “Public Charge” Rule
Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald (Former Staff), Drew Aherne (Former Staff), Kristen Torres (Former Staff), Rachel Merker (Former Staff) | August 16, 2019 |
The Trump administration has finalized a rule that will expand the definition of a public charge when determining eligibility for individuals applying for admission …
Comments in Response to Proposed Rulemaking — Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: Verification of Eligible Status
Cara Baldari, Kristen Torres (Former Staff) | July 8, 2019 |
First Focus on Children submitted the following comments to a proposed rule expressing our strong opposition to the changes regarding “verification of eligible status,” …
When the American Dream and Promise Act Passed the House
Kristen Torres (Former Staff), First Focus Campaign for Children | June 5, 2019 |
Today we applaud the passage of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 by the United States House of Representatives. I …
White House Proposal to End Government Shutdown Targets Children Seeking Asylum
Kristen Torres (Former Staff), Campaign for Children | January 23, 2019 |
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to call up legislation that advances a proposal from President Trump to reopen the federal government in …
Without Congressional Action for DACA and TPS, Hundreds of Thousands of U.S. Citizen Children will Experience Family Separation
Kristen Torres (Former Staff), First Focus Campaign for Children | December 18, 2018 |
Because Congress has neglected to act, the future for more than 800,000 recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program still remains uncertain. In 2016, the Trump …
Letter to HHS on Changes to the Unaccompanied Alien Children’s (UAC) Program
Kristen Torres (Former Staff) | November 30, 2018 |
First Focus sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to express our deep concern with recent policy changes to …
The Proposed Public Charge Rule is an Attack on Family-Based Immigration
Kristen Torres (Former Staff) | November 28, 2018 |
Family unity is often a key motivation for immigration. Mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters who seek to sponsor their immediate family members may do …
Inside the Tornillo Shelter for Unaccompanied Children
Kristen Torres (Former Staff) | October 1, 2018 |
The influx shelter or “tent city” located at the port of entry in Tornillo, TX is used to temporarily house unaccompanied children. I …