East valley immigration clinic provide citizenship, legal help
People in the eastern Coachella Valley were able to start their pathways to citizenship and seek legal help thanks to a community immigration clinic in Mecca Saturday morning.
Tables are set up at a church with people patiently waiting, many of them seeking advice on navigating the immigration process.
“Ironically, I’ve been living in the U.S. for 48 years and I never made an effort to become a U.S. citizen,” Wencs Valdez of Indio said.
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Valdez has been a permanent resident during that time. He said there was never a thought about becoming a citizen since he still had ties in Mexico, but due to the Trump Administration’s stringent immigration policy, he was compelled to start.
“Since I lived most of my life by the border, I felt that I was close to Mexico and felt I didn’t need to become a U.S. citizen, but the times have changed so much, it’s a necessity to become a U.S. citizen,” Valdez said.
He was one of about 50 people that came to the immigration clinic, hosted the Council of Mexican Federations or COFEM. Applications for citizenship, help with DACA renewals and lawyers were present to help with any immigration questions. Staff said it’s meant to help empower the local community towards a path to citizenship.
“Besides voting, they can get better jobs, and they have trust in them and their families,” Francisco Moreno, director of community for COFEM, said. “They can help their family become legal residents.”
Valdez says the clinic has been helpful and is willing to pay it forward.
“I feel empowered. Not only did I learn what was available, but also to help some of my friends or people that I talk to,” Valdez said.
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Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
