Category: Immigration

Race is on to protect legal immigrants living in the United States In the Northern Sacramento Valley, immigration attorneys are hard to find

photo by Karen Laslo
Sergio Garcia

by Natalie Hanson
posted April 9

Immigrant advocacy organizations are racing to block the Trump Administration’s attempts to enforce the campaign promise of “mass deportations” that could potentially affect millions of people.

But in the North State, many people live far away from immigration attorneys who could help them with their existing cases or new threats from ICE, said Chico attorney Sergio Garcia, who practices personal injury law, and in 2014, became the nation’s first undocumented person to obtain a law license. Garcia is now an American citizen.

Garcia regularly directs immigrants needing legal help to attorneys practicing in Sacramento. read more

John Nishio works to prevent history from repeating Changemaker: Former Chico State University Prof Nishio organizes pilgrimage

photo by Yucheng Tang
John Nishio

by Yucheng Tang
posted March 1

Editor: This is the second story in our monthly Changemaker series.

Former Chico State professor John Nishio has ample reason to organize a pilgrimage honoring Japanese American prisoners of war.

His father and grandparents were among those held captive during World War II, and as a biologist, he believes he’s found a link between his field of science and his family history.

Epigenetic markers are the environmental factors that impact gene expressions, he said. Some of these markers, or chemicals, he explained, can attach to the DNA and be transferred to successive generations. read more

Protesters chant while job fair is underway; CSUC notches up security ICE representatives participate in CSUC student recruitment

“Fuera ICE” (Out with ICE) reads a protester’s sign at the BMU today.

by ChicoSol staff
posted Feb. 26

About 40 protesters gathered in front of the Bell Memorial Union (BMU) today to protest the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Chico State job fair.

Two recruiters from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a law enforcement agency within ICE, were recruiting at the fair. “No justice, no peace, until ICE leaves,” protesters chanted in the plaza outside the BMU as other students waited in line to check in so that they could attend the fair.

The single-door check-in process was a new step implemented for today’s fair, said Andrew Staples, university public relations manager. read more

Chico State students protest plans to include ICE at job fair Homeland Security Investigations has job and volunteer openings

Students protested at Chico State today.

by ChicoSol staff
posted Feb. 24

A group of protesters circled the Chico State campus today, then gathered on the lawn near the Bell Memorial Union to protest the participation of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) at a job fair that will be held Feb. 26.

“No ICE on campus!” chanted marching protesters. “We do not need people who are choosing to dehumanize our fellow humans, our friends and our family and the members of our community on our campus, threatening their safety,” said an organizer, Anna Krause.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Francisco/NorCal, a law enforcement component within ICE, has registered to attend Chico State’s Business Career Fair. The flier for the fair indicates the agency has openings for special agents as well as student volunteers. read more

Protests and informational sessions support immigrant communities ImmSchools: Public schools can create a safe environment

photo by Julian Mendoza
Kassandra Ramondo (left) and Lizette Pilar

by Julian Mendoza
posted Feb. 12

Hundreds of people gathered on Chico State’s campus Feb. 5 for a peaceful march in what was one of several recent local protests advocating for immigrant rights.

“I think it’s super important that people understand and know that immigrants do make the backbone of our country,” said Lizette Pilar, program coordinator at Chico State’s Gender & Sexuality Equity Coalition. “Especially in agriculture, a lot of our pickers are illegal immigrants or undocumented.”

Efforts are underway across the state — including passage of new laws, street protests and information sessions — to push back against the Trump Administration’s most extreme immigration measures. Downtown Los Angeles has had multiple protests including one that blocked U.S. 101 for hours. Ethnic Media Services (EMS), a a nonprofit news and communications agency, held a know-your-rights training Feb. 7 for media organizations. read more

Protesters: Immigrants built America 'Un Día sin Inmigrantes' spurs protests in Butte County and elsewhere

Magdalen Riestra (middle in photo) organized a same-day protest for the Day without Immigrants. Some Chico State students stayed home from work or class.

by ChicoSol staff
posted Feb. 3

More than 100 people participated in a peaceful protest to show solidarity with immigrants today in Chico, and more hit the streets in Gridley and elsewhere in the state.

Participants marched around Chico State, danced spontaneously in City Plaza, and stood on the sidewalk next to the plaza, holding signs and shouting at passing vehicles.

Magdalen Riestra, 21, a public health student at Chico State, organized the protest.

“There’s a lot of issues surrounding immigration and immigrants coming into this country for a better life,” Riestra said. “They are being told by the media and our president that they are not wanted here and that is not fair. They built America since a long time ago, and no person is illegal on stolen land. read more