This article was written by BenitoLink intern Ariana Rivera. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Amid nationwide concerns over increased immigration enforcement, 20 people attended the United Farm Workers Foundation’s immigration resource workshop at Gavilan College on Aug. 16.
People seeking legal help in applying for citizenship or renewing their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status were able to speak with legal professionals free of charge.
The United Farm Workers Foundation has previously hosted similar events, but according to UFW Senior Legal Representative Ricardo Nunez, it’s been several years since one was held in San Benito County.
Nunez said it’s important for people to have a way to gain citizenship, asserting that it leads to freedom of security and the power to participate in democracy, including voting.
“I’m an immigrant, I know the struggle,” he said. “I know how important it is for people going through this immigration system to have someone guide them through the process.”
Nunez used the Spanish proverb, “Preguntando se llega a Roma” (you get to Rome by asking for directions) to explain that many people are unaware of the various immigration or citizenship statuses they can acquire. He encouraged attendees to ask questions, even if they did not yet qualify for a permanent resident card or citizenship.
Many workshop attendees came with their families. The names of attendees who spoke to BenitoLink are not being used out of concern for legal repercussions.
One family did not yet qualify for citizenship. However, their daughter “Isabella” (not her real name) said they are now aware of the support services offered by UFW Foundation and Gavilan College, and can pass the information they received to other family members.
“I’m going to share [the information we got] with my siblings and say, this is what [our parents] are experiencing right now,” Isabella said. “We have someone to depend on, you know, we don’t have to worry anymore that our parents are going to be taken away.
“I couldn’t explain everything, explain the legal stuff, for [my parents] to understand what they have to do next,” she added. “It was nice to have someone who could speak Spanish to help them with their documents and explain the ways to get a green card or residency.”
Attendees said that while they might not have legal residency, they felt that this has been their home for a long time.
“[My parents] have been [in Hollister] and they haven’t moved after 20 years. I would say, like, locally, it’s their safe place,” Isabella said.
Gavilan College Dean of Counseling, Student Success and Equity Diego Espinoza said that an event like this is transformative for individuals and their families.
The son of immigrants and an immigrant himself, Espinoza said he recognizes the important role undocumented people play in the community and how crucial it is to support them through the process of obtaining legal residency.
In hosting a local workshop, he said he hopes that undocumented residents of San Benito County feel comfortable continuing to ask questions.
While resources similar to the workshop do exist in neighboring areas, attendees stressed the importance of having access closer to home.
“Cuando uno está fuera de su país, cuando está en un lugar tan alejado, lo que nos sirven son todas estas herramientas que nos dan para seguir saliendo adelante,” said a Gavilan College student attending the event. (When one is out of their country, when one is in such a far away place, what helps us are all of these tools to keep getting ahead.)
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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