Coronavirus disrupts thousands of immigration cases and census work in Fresno
Dozens of immigration and census events in the Central Valley have been halted amid the coronavirus outbreak, leaving thousands of immigrant famalies in limbo.
At least one Fresno-area organization helping the immigrant and refugee community has closed its office, and one more said it may follow suit.
Leaders at local organizations say they are still trying to help as many people as possible working remotely, using new creative options, and limited one-on-one appointments.
Workshops to help immigrants renew their applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and naturalization have been suspended. Citizenship classes have been canceled along with informational events about the census, public charge and legal education.
Pao Yang, chief executive officer at The Fresno Center, said his organization continues to help clients with limited one-on-one appointments - where social-distancing is practiced- and working over the phone.
“It’s draining to try to do this, especially when we serve over 3,000 clients a month,” he said during an interview.
Jesus Martinez, executive director of the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative, said the timing is unfortunate, given many efforts were underway as the census rolls out.
This “really also undermines the work that, we and many other partner organizations, had planned to do in the Central Valley at a very strategic time when the census is just getting started,’ he said during an interview Tuesday. “A lot of people have limited information on the census. Immigrant families have a lot of concerns or lack information. That’s why the outreach events would be so important at this particular time.”
Christine Barker, new executive director at Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries, said her organization has closed its office, but staff continue to assist those in need by working remotely.
Many of the clients her organization serves are elderly, she said.
“Caseworkers have been reaching out to clients to let them know of what’s going on, and keep them informed,” she said during an interview Tuesday.
FIRM still has a skeleton crew taking phone calls and checking voice messages at the office from 8:30 a.m. to noon during the week days. But no walk-in appointments are available.
Mario Gonzalez, who oversees the immigration department at Centro La Familia, said the organization is still open, but if there’s a directive to shuttered their doors, they will.
The organization has canceled its Friday consultations that typically serve about 50 people who have questions about their immigration cases. Centro La Familia is helping people by appointment only.
On average, appointments are two to three weeks out, Gonzalez said, which means, the wait will be longer under the current circumstances.
“We are trying to figure how we are going to best help everyone during this time,” he said.
ICE, immigration court
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week on its website announced the agency “will temporarily adjust its enforcement” activities effective Wednesday.
“ICE’s highest priorities are to promote life-saving and public safety activities,” the agency says.
Mary Houtmann, an ICE spokeswoman, on Wednesday said “world events or country conditions can sometimes impact a country’s willingness to accept its citizens with final orders” for deportation.
“When these events occur, ICE works both directly with foreign governments and through the Department of State to address the situation and ICE’s expectation is that each country will continue to meet its international obligation to accept its own nationals.”
Meanwhile, immigration court continues to operate. There is no immigration court in Fresno -- the closest ones are in San Francisco and Sacramento.
On Wednesday, Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., urged the Department of Justice to temporarily close all immigration courts, which operate under the Executive Office of Immigration Review.
Ongoing immigration court hearing pose a public safety risk, according to a statement.
“It is our responsibility to halt measures and policies that jeopardize the health and safety of our communities and prolong this crisis,” Markey wrote in a letter to to EOIR Director James McHenry. “Accordingly, I ask that you listen to the advice of public health officials and immigration court professionals, and order the immediate closure of immigration courts nationwide.”
Kathryn Mattingly, assistant press secretary with EOIR, on Wednesday said immigration courts have postponed all non-detained hearings through April 10.
“The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has been carefully reviewing the information available from federal officials related to the coronavirus pandemic,” she said in an email. “The agency continues to evaluate the dynamic situation nationwide and will make decisions for each location as more information becomes available.”
Justin Sweeney, a Fresno-based immigration attorney, said immigration courts in San Francisco and Sacramento closed this week. The current situation, he said, is “creating huge issues” among the immigrant community.
“I’m glad they’ve closed everything for everyone’s safety but now the already maxed-out, over-worked system is going to get more clogged up,” he said Wednesday.
How to get help by making a one-on-one appointment
The Fresno Center: 559-255-8395
Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative -- for information in English, visit cviic.org, for information in Spanish, visit: vallecentral.org
On cviic.org, you can find a directory of immigration services.
Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries: Calls are only being answered from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, 559-487-1500. (information can be available in Khmer and Arabic)
Centro La Familia: 559-237-2961
California Rural Legal Assistance: For information in Spanish and English, visit www.crla.org
Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN’s Fresno Office) is still processing DACA applications and providing web legal appointments. http://www.siren-bayarea.org/contact
The Central California Legal Services is also still providing services to immigrant families. https://centralcallegal.org/ccls-home/
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 1:46 PM.
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