Local organizations to host 'know your rights' workshops in Spanish in Salinas.

As waves of uncertainty and fear increase among the immigrant community in Monterey County and beyond, Líderes Campesinas en California, Proyecto Mixteco and United Farmworkers Foundation are organizing free immigration workshops where experts and advocates will share recommendations, constitutional rights and tools immigrants can rely on.

One of the events is on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, the day Donald Trump will begin his second presidential term.

“History is being made on a national level on that date, and so let's make history on a local level on that date,” says Blanca E. Zarazúa, the immigration attorney and honorary council of Mexico that will lead the workshop. “Let's provide emotional assurance, not just technical, which is useful, but if people are emotionally listening, doesn't matter what you say, technically, they won't listen because they're too distracted with the fear.”

This event will also offer Mixteco interpretation, Zarazúa says, noting there is a great need for legal services among Mexican Indigenous communities in Monterey County. 

Zarazúa advises immigrants to not procrastinate on their cases. “You really need to make your legal status a priority,” she says.

Patience is important while navigating immigration court. “You don't want to give them any excuse to deny your petition or your application,” she adds. 

Another advice is seeking legal guidelines from attorneys instead of tax services or notaries. One of her clients trusted a tax service firm and “right before Christmas, he went to the interview, and they rejected him, and he needs to stay out for 10 years,” she says. 

One reason Mexican immigrants trust notaries is because a Mexican notary or notario “is a very specialized governor appointed attorney who deals with real estate transactions, and it's a very prestigious position,” Zarazúa says. “They go with a notario [here], who probably doesn't know all the technicalities and gives wrong advice that could be very, very damaging.”

On Jan. 14, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the county as a friendly place for immigrants and refugees. The County of Monterey has launched a website with immigration resources and formed an ad hoc committee on immigrants rights that has members from different sectors including agriculture, hospitality, law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, attorneys and local government.

Immigration workshops in Spanish:

-Cambio de presidente ¿Que debo saber? (will provide Mixteco interpretation). 

5:30pm Monday, Jan. 20. Teamsters Local Union 856, 207 N Sanborn Road, Salinas. Hosted by Líderes Campesinas, Proyecto Mixteco and  Blanca a Zarazúa. info@suabogada.com

-Know Your Rights/Conozca sus derechos

5:30pm Tuesday, Jan. 21. UFW Foundation, 118 E. Gabilan St., Salinas. 220-3004. Hosted by UFWF representatives.