Friend, Today, I am writing to share a story about my mother and why my work at the National Immigration Law Center is so personal. I grew up in a small farming community on California’s Central Coast. When my mother first came to the U.S. from Mexico, she worked long hours in the fields, and in the 1970s, she started organizing with the farm workers movement, fighting for fair wages and safer working conditions. Recently, I had the privilege of supporting immigrant farm workers at a legal clinic in Bakersfield, California, hosted in partnership with the United Farm Workers. At these events, we help workers who have experienced unfair labor practices or unsafe conditions to apply for Deferred Action — a temporary form of protection that keeps people safe from deportation so that they can help labor agencies investigate abusive employers without fear of retaliation. It’s a critical tool to help workers step into their own power and make workplaces safer and more just for people who come after them. Throughout the day, farm workers shared stories of organizing and the strong communities they’ve built. They spoke of the ongoing struggle for fair treatment amidst harsh conditions, like working long hours in the heat and exposure to chemicals on the job. Even as people were sharing stories of horrible injustices, we took moments to show each other love and care, like celebrating a birthday and sharing a delicious potluck meal. It filled me with hope to witness the community come together to fight for justice, just like my mother did decades ago. Attending this clinic was a full-circle moment for me. As I spoke with many of the women and mothers leading the clinic, I couldn’t help but reflect on my mother’s journey. To this day, she works as an advocate, connecting immigrant families with community services and resources. These clinics are also powerfully rooted in community, led by the people who are the most directly impacted and supported by a network of allies. It was especially inspiring to see so many strong women taking the reins of this fight for workers’ rights. While the struggle for justice is ongoing, it is filled with promise, because of generations of people united in the fight for a better future.
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