PVI meeting with Rep. Jim Costa staff AFSC
Click here to view PVI’s new video thanking all workers, particularly farmworkers, for working tirelessly to guarantee American households have food at our tables.
FRESNO - It has been more than a decade since I began my community organizing experience; it was with PVI’s support that I began facilitating youth groups. Now as a Fellow, I am given the opportunity to continue sharing my immigrant experience and advocate for our indigenous and farm worker communities at a different level.
While organizations such as PVI continue to include fair policies for immigrants at any given opportunity, our immigrant communities can focus on having some stability and health until we win normalcy against Covid together. In partnership with Dignity Campaign Organizing Committee and AFSC colleagues throughout the US, PVI continues our advocacy for immigrant communities through legislative efforts.
After surviving the Trump presidency, immigrant rights advocates are continuing to struggle for an inclusive immigration bill in a polarized Congress. It has been more than three decades since the last immigration reform, and there have been hundreds of anti-immigration bills and deterrents that have been proposed since then, and some have become laws. This has left immigrants and mixed-status families in limbo at times, settling for crumbs and broken promises.
During the Obama administration there were high hopes of a comprehensive immigration reform, but instead the immigrant community had to settle for DACA. There were thousands of collateral deportations as part of that compromise. It continued during the Trump administration. From the start of Trump’s presidency, our community fought against racist rhetoric and immigration policies. Under the Trump presidency, immigrant communities were at risk of losing even the little advancement obtained during the Obama administration.
Today, many undocumented immigrants have given up in believing and advocating for a change in the immigration laws that would allow them to adjust their status. This is a result of decades of false hopes and broken promises. The Trump administration played a role in many immigrants taking refuge in the shadows again. The undocumented community has moved on to focusing on economic stability during the health crisis. In times of Covid, “All we want is to keep working and being healthy,” says Lorena, my farmworker cousin.
On the other hand, advocacy groups continue on the frontlines advocating for an inclusive immigration reform. Times of crisis prove once again that organizations cannot afford not to fight for immigrants. Amid such complex dynamics, the Pan Valley Institute has consistently been in the forefront of advocating for immigrant rights.
Meeting with the staff of Sen. Michael Bennet (CO)
Now more than ever it is important for PVI to facilitate meetings with our federal legislators to advocate for a meaningful immigration reform, denounce bad policies, and call out bad political compromises. This is exactly what PVI’s efforts have been since the announcement of bills such as the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and a possible immigration policy through a complicated budget reconciliation procedure.
PVI and its allies have continuously met with Federal elected officials to ensure that--while the reconciliation bill moves forward through various committees and is reviewed by members of Congress—a final package provides relief and protection for all immigrants. Our meetings have included staff with Rep. Jim Costa (CA), Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA), Sen. Michael Bennet (CO), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Sen. Alex Padilla (CA).
After more than three decades since meaningful citizenship legislation, immigrants have been unnecessarily denied access to lifesaving support. It is time for Congress to recognize immigrants under the law so millions finally have the support they need to thrive. Passing the reconciliation bill with a Pathway to Citizenship for All is necessary to remedy the years of uncertainty and anti-immigrants attacks our communities have endured.
Meeting with the staff of Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA)