An Interview with Gala Awardee Irene Sanchez
1.) What inspired you to pursue your line of work?
When I first moved to New York 15 years ago, I encountered many hurdles similar to what many immigrants go through when they first come to the United States. While getting used to my new surroundings, I did not speak English, and I was not aware of any support resources; and although I was a U.S. citizen, I felt very overwhelmed and lost without the support of my family and friends. Moreover, as a single mother, I had to do the seemingly impossible and work three jobs while caring for my young son. Like countless others, I navigated these challenges while seeking a better future.
These experiences instilled in me a deep sense of the struggles many immigrant families encounter. If I struggled in my journey, I contemplated what it must be like for those that are not U.S. citizens or do not have legal status. Yet, I never feared being separated from my child. I cannot imagine the anxiety and constant fear of going to work every day in the fields or other harsh conditions and being fearful that ICE may show up anywhere at any time.
For the past 15 years, I have had the opportunity to work for various organizations assisting the immigrant community. Hence, year after year, it became evident that our clients' immigration statuses prevented them from having the same opportunities afforded to me. The paradoxical nature of the immigration system was deterring Dreamers and skilled workers from pursuing their current or desired professions, affecting their socio-economic wellbeing. Seeing these inequities and the pain it caused to parents, children and communities motivated me to do my best to help in any way possible.
In Upstate New York, most farmworkers are undocumented and dismissed by the general public and government officials. The Covid-19 Pandemic confirmed what advocates have been shouting to the Nation. Immigrants are essential workers! Their labor is critical for our society and they make significant contributions to the economy and communities. As part of my role at the Western New York Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies, we foster collaborations among nonprofit agencies, government organizations, and community leaders to provide services that address farmworkers' legal issues. We also work to lessen their fears of family separation while supporting the immediate needs that prevent them from living with dignity. In my heart and mind, I feel that working for justice and fairness is an essential part of who I am.
2.) Describe an impactful situation that has occurred since you’ve been in your current position.
As a Legal Advocate at JustCause (formerly Volunteer Legal Services Project), my primary role is connecting Pro Bono Attorneys with our farmworker and immigrant communities. Unfortunately, the manifestation of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated already dire circumstances for these communities and added obstacles for immigrant families accessing legal services.
For instance, a vital part of the Immigrant's Rights Pro Bono Program is coordinating Family Preparedness Clinics, including Immigration Consultations for individuals and families residing in rural counties. Many clients are already experiencing a technology divide, lack of language access, isolation, and other obstacles to legal services. I was amazed how quickly our team coordinated with partner organizations to transition the in-person clinics to a virtual setting to overcome these challenges. We coordinated a CLE to recruit and train Pro Bono Attorneys on Family Preparedness, including completing Health Care Proxies and guidance for remote notarizations and purchased equipment to allow us to mobilize our office to our cars. I was impressed by the passion of the organizations and Pro bono attorneys who quickly volunteered to help. Our partner agencies taught our clients to connect to the zoom, use email, and assist with interpretation. After the client met with the attorneys remotely, our team met with our client's outside their homes, farms, churches, and parks to notarize the documents, while the attorney virtually witnessed the signatures. We then met with the attorneys that same day to complete the notarizations. It was a genuine team effort that involved various organizations and volunteer attorneys to ensure this critical work continued.
Joint I-ARC allowed us to enhance our work, advocate for the immigrant community, and broaden a panel of legal volunteers to serve communities severely impacted by the ever-changing immigration policies. I am honored to work alongside a fantastic team of advocates from several organizations who work shoulder to shoulder to address the needs of the farmworker community and immigrant community.
3.) What is the most rewarding part of your job? Why?
Each day I have the opportunity and privilege of speaking with people with extraordinary stories of their resilience. Guiding clients through a very daunting and complex legal system while connecting clients with legal volunteers and immigration experts is a personally and professionally gratifying experience. But, importantly, working with a dedicated team of professionals and community advocates that are affirmatively changing people's lives is a dream come true!
Our programs successfully reached out to those most in need because we have incredible partners working on the ground, elevating their voices. The pandemic just brought to light the linkage behind the scenes. Working together, we overcome the barriers to legal services; we deliver masks, hand sanitizer, toiletries, food, and school supplies to the farmworker and immigrant communities. Together, we helped with filing fees, rent, and even fixed a car to address the client's immediate needs while providing legal services. Seeing the direct and positive impact of our collaborations on families has been very humbling for me. My work with JustCause allows me to build trust and act upon my deeply held values of wanting to help others in difficult circumstances.
4.) What changes would you like to see regarding immigration in the near future? How are you actively working towards that vision?
A nation built by immigrants needs a better immigration system. Our Nation needs comprehensive immigration reform now! Instead, our exclusionary policies are hindering immigrant families' chances to be thriving and fulfill their dreams. As an advocate, I strive to support immigrants to elevate their voices as leaders to advocate in their communities. However, the lack of immigration status is a massive deterrent for many people to speak up. A pathway to Citizenship can yield leaders a fair chance to actively shape legislation and bureaucracies needed to improve the quality of life in their communities without the fear of being deported and separated from their loved ones.
As an individual concerned about the attack on immigrants in our Nation, I am involved in numerous coalitions and grassroots organizations that advocate for legislative changes, such as the U.S. Citizenship Act, the American Dream and Promise Act, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet with legislators and their representatives and participate in public rallies to further spread awareness about these critical issues. Involving our family and friends in addition to our agencies in demanding our elected officials to enact a comprehensive immigration reform will impact the lives of millions of people waking up every day to pursue their hopes and dreams in the land of the free.
