According to U.S. Census figure, roughly 200,000 Filipino Americans live in San Diego County, and nearly one in 10 students, staff and faculty at Southwestern.
By Mario A. Cortez
As the future of comprehensive immigration and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program remains unclear, students enrolled in the DACA program, known as “Dreamers”, at Southwestern College will soon be able to receive aid tailored to their needs at a new center at the Chula Vista campus, inaugurated this Thursday, April 25.
The new Dreamer Center will be offering outreach, workshops, financial aid, meeting rooms, and legal assistance to DACA program beneficiaries. But for student Norma Vizcaino, a DACA recipient who will be staffing the center, the opening also represents the creation of a space where she can feel safe and welcome. “Often times we are taught to hide (our migratory status) and say nothing, so this place makes me feel like I can breathe,” she said.