Jacqueline was born in Mexico and came to the United States when she was eight years old. Today she is one of more than half a million people protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which gives her temporary permission to live and work in the country she’s known most of her life. Her own experiences as an immigrant have led her to a career serving others with undocumented status in the community. Until recently she served as the coordinator of City DREAM, a resource center for undocumented students at City College of San Francisco (CCSF), where she connected students to services such as academic counseling, financial aid, and, thanks to a partnership with IIBA, free legal services.
The Crucial Role of Trust in Immigrant Legal Services
“Trust is key for legal services for the immigrant community,” says Jacqueline. She believes IIBA has earned that trust by steadfastly supporting and advocating for so many in the CCSF community. Whenever her students had questions about their immigration options, she encouraged them to meet with the IIBA team. “I think students are very scared to talk about their immigration status. We’re taught that the quieter you are, the safer you are. But talking to a legal service is as important as going to the doctor. Laws are always changing, there are new programs, new opportunities, so I try to promote IIBA as much as I can.”
Having an ally like IIBA is particularly important for immigrants concerned with their long-term stability in the U.S. While DACA has opened many doors for community members like Jacqueline, the future of the program is uncertain. “Even though I have DACA, I still consider myself undocumented because my status could be taken at any point.
It’s not a stable status,” Jacqueline says. Knowing this, she advised her students to consult with IIBA to determine if they were eligible for more secure forms of relief, such as permanent residency or citizenship.
From Client to Community Advocate
As a CCSF staff member, Jacqueline also qualified for assistance from IIBA and became a client herself. She worked with IIBA to renew her DACA status every two years and to apply for advance parole, special permission for DACA recipients to leave and reenter the country. “I hadn’t gone back to Mexico for over 20 years, so this was the only way I could go back and visit my family. It was a big deal for me.” It took Jacqueline nearly two years to receive advance parole approval, but IIBA was with her every step of the way, from the initial meeting to discuss her options to double-checking that she had all the documents she needed to return to the U.S. after her trip.
“If I had a question about my family members or someone I know heard something on the news, I would first go to IIBA because I trust them,” Jacqueline says. “So it’s not just me but a whole community that’s also benefiting from IIBA.”