And Juan Felipe Herrera has begun his term as the new U.S. poet laureate. The son of migrant farm workers, Herrera is the first-ever Latino to hold the position. He writes in both English and Spanish. At his inaugural reading at the Library of Congress Tuesday, Herrera spoke about the plight of migrants and refugees.

Juan Felipe Herrera: “It’s very tragic. It’s very tragic. And as human beings, we must think about that, and we must respond to that, in whatever way, you know? In whatever way. Maybe it’s a very personal way. Maybe there’s a letter written. Maybe there’s an organization, a community organization or committee. Or maybe, as poets, we can write something.”

During the reading, Juan Felipe Herrera and musician Juan Díes also performed a Mexican-style ballad, known as a “corrido,” about the death of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old African-American woman who was found dead in a Texas jail cell in July. Protesters have raised questions about her death.