From Undocumented to Advocate
Anuar Arriaga Esquivel
My dog Chispa was snuggled up, cozy in her bed. I jealously arose from my own bed and thought “who gets up at this ungodly hour?” I recalled my mission for today and went to start a pot of coffee. My watch marked 4:50 a.m., just enough time to brainstorm and write down my thoughts for the rounds of afternoon meetings. I downed my coffee with some tacos al vapor that my aunt Lorena made the afternoon before, and was ready to start my long drive to the capitol building in Sacramento.
The date was April 19, 2023, and Oasis Legal Services joined the California Welcomes Coalition and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) to advocate for various proposed bills that benefit the well-being of immigrants.
In the car, I blasted my music to try to shake my nerves, but on my mind were three proposed pieces of legislation:
Senate Bill 85, “California Extended Case Management,” which would fund extended case management services from 90 days to 180 days (up to a maximum of 360 days) on a case-by-case basis;
Assembly Bill 278, “High School Dream Resource Centers,” which would establish undocumented student resource centers in high schools around California; and
Assembly Bill 325, “Wrap Around Services,” which would allow immigrants awaiting adjudication of their case to access state benefits.
This was my first time going to the capitol, and I had never done anything like this before. I was unsure whether what I had to say was relevant or even persuasive. Arguably, my background as an undocumented immigrant did not prepare me for this day. But I enjoy a challenge and this was for a good cause.
Waiting for me when I arrived was my teammate Ari Jones, our Residency and Naturalization Programs Director, and also an incredible human being.
We went through a quick orientation with other members of the coalitions and proceeded to walk to the capitol. My heart started racing. It was time for action. In difficult times like these, I have a mantra adopted from a Portuguese song: “Eu quero, eu posso, eu luto, vou na fe sem desistir, e eu vou conseguir.”
It translates to: “I want it, I can, I will fight, my faith will not waiver, and I will do it.”
We went through our presentation from one legislator’s office to the next (a total of five that day). Ari began with a beautiful synopsis of SB85, followed by others giving examples of case management in the field, and then it was my turn for a personal statement. I expressed how I did not have access to case management while I was undocumented, nor while I went through the asylum process, and how much of a difference it would have made for me. I explained to each staffer how I could have avoided workplace exploitation with access to an advocate, and how having access to mental health services would have made the asylum process more humane. I elaborated how I carried the weight of feeling like a second class citizen because of my immigration status and how my sentiments were reaffirmed by people who sought to exploit me. I poured my heart out to each staffer with hopes of gaining their support.
My presentation was followed by a very compelling statement from our team member Maria, who spoke about her hardships as an undocumented student in high school. Everything she said, I could relate to, and I felt so inspired and proud to see someone else using her voice to advocate for resource centers that I know will make a huge difference in people’s lives. We were like a well-oiled machine, and everything everyone said supplemented what the previous person offered. We ended with a closing statement, a final request for support.
With each round, I became less afraid of others knowing about my past. Ari was reassuring every step of the way (If you read this Ari, I truly thank you for your support!). Having the whole team’s support made the process so fulfilling and inspirational.
To our delight, the majority of the staffers were in support of our advocacy, but some were difficult to gauge. I did not realize it at the moment, but I was confronting my past as an undocumented individual by doing this advocacy work. Deep in my consciousness, I still heard the voices of people who told me I did not belong in this country, much less in the state’s capitol. But I shook off those thoughts and charged forward.
We ended our advocacy day close to 4:00 p.m. and I started my drive back home to the Bay Area. I’m proud to stand in solidarity with my team at Oasis Legal Services, CA Welcomes, and CHIRLA. Thank you all for everything you do. I believe in positive changes for our community because of you all, and this experience has motivated me to continue doing advocacy work in the future.