Over the
past week we have featured guest writer Emily Guerrero. Emily, Supervising
Immigration Attorney with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charleston, has
shared her experiences since the passage of the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals Act. Today we conclude this series as Emily tells us about the clinics
she and her staff have held to help young immigrants, known as “Dreamers,”
obtain temporary legal status and work authorization.
On the morning of my first clinic, in the quiet car ride
there, I have to admit I teared up, thinking of this wonderful day, this
opportunity to change people’s lives. I felt honored to be a part of it. Once
there, the volunteers came through the doors, as did the immigrants, and the
day was smooth and productive. At the end of the day, once the tables and
chairs were put back into their rightful places, the physical, mental, and
emotional exhaustion was heavy.
The thankfulness and gratitude of the Dreamers carried us
through the exhaustion. The sincere “Thank you’s” and hugs and “God bless
you’s” were an addictive boost of positive energy. Many mothers rushed to
embrace us, thanking us for giving their child a long-awaited chance to
succeed, to go to college. Also, the volunteers had an eye-opening experience
and were stunned by the tenacity, intelligence, and authenticity of the
Dreamers. It was truly a way of bringing everyone together.
Staff members and volunteers working with Dreamers to complete the necessary legal forms.
All in all, we did seven group processing clinics across the
state and served almost 400 people in preparing their Dreamers applications. We
had many victories, made a lot of mistakes, and learned so much. We learned
that even though we are a small program, we can accomplish so much. We can
think outside of the box, we can partner with other agencies and people, and we
can use the resources in our communities.
I am infinitely proud of my staff, who worked so hard to
make these clinics happen. I am humbled by their diligence, their perseverance,
their grace under unbelievable pressure. We have the confidence now to do
anything, right after we take a very long break J. I encourage all of
you to challenge yourselves, get out of your comfort zone, and know that your
efforts do not have to be perfect. Think big, work hard, and the results will
be life-changing, both for you and for the people you serve.
Volunteers working together to insure Dreamer's forms are properly filled out.
Thank
you, Emily, for sharing about your staff, the clinics, and all your hard work.
It has been wonderful to learn more about our Catholic Charities Immigration
Offices and the services they provide. Also- a huge thanks goes out to to all
our employees and volunteers for the countless hours they have put into the
clinics and processing of the paperwork in recent months. We’re so proud of
their hard work and for the Dreamers who have had the courage to chase after
their dreams for a better future!
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