Written by: Sister Diane Donoghue,
SSS
June 8, 2013
The Dallas office services the
largest number of DACA students in the country.
Nubia Torres is the case manager and
coordinates the interns who work with DACA applicants. She has a remarkable
group of committed young people.
Fernando comes every Saturday and volunteers.
He has a day job working as a manager in a local technology provider group. He works
there Monday through Friday and volunteers at Catholic Charities on Saturdays.
Gloria, from Austin, has been working
there for 3 years with immigrants. One of the things she has come to understand
is that people trust Catholic social services because they are so afraid of
fraud. So in addition to the fear of deportation they fear fraud. She worked
with victims of domestic violence. To tell those stores and have confidence in
the listener comes from a relationship of trust.
There were 25 interns and DACA
applicants. Diana, a young DACA applicant, accompanies her parent and it is always
the relief of knowing that you have your papers. But there is a bittersweet
reality that the parents are still working and living in fear. Simone spoke
with them in Spanish. She commended their courage and urged them to stand up
and speak out.
Maria L. is 17 years old and lives
with her mom. She is applying for DACA and is looking forward to a job, college
degree and driver’s license. She came when she was 4 months old, when her
mother escaped poverty in pursuit of a job to support her family.
On this particular Saturday they received
80 applicants. CCSS is open Tuesday through Saturday because Saturdays enable them
to service many more applicants
We went outside in the challenging
heat with a most enthusiastic crowd of more than 100. Simone, again, challenged
them on the importance of calling their Senators (the audience booed). They did
know the importance of contacting the Senate Offices. The cry is TEXT TUESDAY
TEXAS
We remind our supporters that the
majority of Americans support Immigration reform NOW. We have unions, business
communities, chambers of commerce and a bipartisan effort that includes all of us
crying out for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, NOW. This includes the WSJ.
Josh Clemons, Social Awareness
Officer for Catholic Charities, spoke after Simone. The crowd was enthusiastic,
energized and committed to action. NOTB gives energy but is more often
energized by the crowd and the interaction. People are amazed that we try and
do this 3-city tour in one day. They give us energy to keep on, keepin’ on.
