Community-driven workshops in San Mateo County empower immigrants with legal knowledge and resources

Redwood City, California – Redwood is seeing a push to provide immigrants with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the U.S. immigration system in opposition to growing concerns regarding increased enforcement. The “Know Your Rights” seminars, a series of community-driven events meant to educate and empower people at danger of deportation, lead front stage in this campaign.
Mariana, a mother who has lived in the U.S. for two decades, shared her fears at one of these workshops.
“What will happen to my daughter if I’m deported?” she asks, a sentiment echoed by many in attendance. The anxiety is palpable among the diverse group that includes a Bolivian industrial engineer, families, and single individuals, all looking for guidance in a system they find overwhelmingly complex.
Organized by the San Mateo County Office of Community Affairs, these seminars offer more than just legal knowledge. In uncertain times, they provide a beacon of hope and a sense of community. From Daly City to Pescadero, sessions are scheduled throughout the county, which allows a large audience to attend.
Facilitators cover important subjects including how to engage with immigration officials, the need of avoiding signing paperwork without legal representation, and the constitutional rights that defend all people on U.S. territory, regardless of their immigration status, over these 90-minute sessions. Participants receive practical tools such as red cards, which outline these rights.
“One of the goals is to help people overcome fear and anxiety by giving them trusted information as well as concrete actions they can take,” said Sarah Dewitt-Feldman, the County’s Immigrant Services Coordinator who leads workshops along with teammate Carolina Salinas.
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To ensure attendees have complete access to comprehensive help, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and other groups periodically send attorneys to offer further direction at these sessions. Regardless of legal status, the Office of Community Affairs also keeps a resource portal including all the services accessible to every resident. These seminars also address the emotional and pragmatic considerations families should think about, including drafting a family plan should confinement call for.
These meetings have an effect beyond only providing immediate legal protections. Dr. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, founder of Ayudando Latinos A Soñar, a nonprofit that supports the Latino community in the Coastside area, emphasizes the broader benefits.
“Knowing Your Rights is a critical service that empowers individuals and families to navigate complex situations with confidence and clarity,” said Dr. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga. “We have seen how this type of support helps alleviate the fear and uncertainty many in our community are experiencing, which can profoundly impact mental health and overall well-being.”
For attendees like the Bolivian engineer, these workshops are a lifeline. The knowledge acquired during these events could make the difference between a life in the shadows and a legal route to remain in the U.S. faced with a deteriorating economy back home and the possibility of a grim future for his children.
These seminars, which keep expanding, show the dedication of a community to include and assist its most vulnerable members, therefore capturing the essence of what it means to be a friendly society amid trying circumstances.