LBCC has teamed up with the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition to host “Know Your Rights” workshops, open to students and the community.
Led by LBIRC’s Senior Community Organizer Jonathan Solorzano, the workshops are intended to empower documented and undocumented students alike.
LBCC Counselor Jose Gutierrez began these workshops in the Fall of 2018, as an extension of the DREAM services provided on campus.
“We partnered with LBIRC because they do a lot of advocacy work,” Gutierrez said.
“We are finding that a lot of our students don’t know that they have specific rights when it comes to dealing with law enforcement, specifically ICE officials.”
Solorzano is using his platform to provide educational resources for communities and advocate for change when minorities are interacting with law enforcement or healthcare practitioners.
“It’s been a struggle with the current political climate. Some folks are living in the shadows or even moving back into the shadows.” Solorzano said.
LBIRC has created a community defense network, which organizes and trains community members to issue out alerts when ICE is in their area.
“We want to empower them so they can become agents of change in their own communities.” Solorzano said.
Solorzano passed out small yellow cards that can be handed to law enforcement in the case of questioning.
The cards include the number to contact the LBIRC dispatch team if they spot ICE in neighborhoods.
A slideshow included an overview of the Miranda Rights, what is and is not legal during search & seizures, as well as what to do in the case of an ICE raid.
LBCC student and dreamer Angel Cervantes, said, “The workshop reinforced things my parents have discussed. We do not have a plan if ICE were to come to our home and that really opened up my eyes.”
Cervantes needed counselor Gutierrez to help him fill out his AB-540, otherwise known as a Dream Act form.
Undocumented students looking to receive help with any of their documents can visit DREAM Services located in the LAC Welcome Center in building A and PCC Welcome Center Building AA.
The next PCC workshop is set to be held in room BB-206 on April 30, 6-8 p.m. and LAC workshop inside the transfer center Tuesday March 26, 2:00-3:30 p.m.