Immigration Clinic in Half Moon Bay

Thursday 12/4

Myself and two other girls from Notre Dame drove down to an Immigration Clinic in Half Moon Bay in the same location as Table of Plenty. As soon as we got there we were immediately split up between different tables and sat down with a lawyer. As I sat to wait for the people we were going to be working with I spoke to the lawyer I was first assigned with. I learned that all the lawyers that were there were all volunteers and were not immigration lawyers. It was interesting that even older people go out and volunteer.
The purpose of the immigration clinic was for undocumented locals to apply and reapply for their DACA application for legal residence here in the United States. The first person I worked was named Irma and I didn't really have to translate because she had been living in Half Moon Bay for years so she spoke good english. I felt like I did more work in the second appointment. I worked with a different lawyer and actually needed to translate. It was a good experience because I heard first hand peoples journey to get to the United States. It was interesting to see how many times people tried before they got to the United States.
What we talked about I can specifically say because the instructions were that we had to keep their information confidential. But I enjoyed translating because I learned a lot and got to practice my spanish. It made me realize what people go through and made me appreciate life and that I have my whole family together because a lot of people leave their families behind.
I was a little upset though because I wasn't able to attend the Table of Plenty like I thought I would. I spoke to Jim earlier in the immigration clinic and I mentioned to him that I was going to leave soon because I wanted and needed to be a part of Table of Plenty. But he mentioned to me that the clinic needed help and that I should just stay and that our professor would understand. I stayed for the entire clinic and they were extremely thankful for our help. After the clinic I ran over to table of plenty but I was too late. I walked in while they were cleaning up. But I definitely plan to do Table of Plenty next Semester.