Organizers extend the hours of an immigration hotline

An immigration hotline will extend its hours beginning Monday to help with the numerous issues Houston immigrants are facing, including detention and discrimination, advocates announced Saturday.

The hotline, which provides referrals to attorneys and legal services, will operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, according to organizers of the Immigrants' Rights Hotline Town Hall on Saturday at the Baker Ripley Neighborhood Center in southwest Houston.

“After the travel ban, there was just huge outcry, lots of interest from people from the airport, volunteers, the community with ongoing concerns, so we opened the hotline to answer those questions,” said Andrea Guttin, the legal director for the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative.

The Immigrants’ Right Hotline — 833-HOU-IMMI or 1833-468-4664 — is a free service provided by nonprofit staff and U.S. Department of Justice-accredited representatives.

The hotline is a collaboration of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Baker Ripley, Boat People SOS, United We Dream and the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative.

ACLU of Texas attorney Edgar Saldivar stressed the importance of being informed.

“The Constitution applies to everyone, whether you are a citizen, an undocumented person, even a tourist,” he said. “You have basic constitutional rights that apply to you as long as you are on American soil.”

One goal is to connect people with community groups and events, Guttin said.

Carlos Saldivar, with Mi Familia Vota (or My Family Votes), noted the difference citizens can make when they exercise their right to vote.

“We are working to make people understand the importance of participating in the midterm elections, since many people say ‘Oh yeah, I vote in the presidential elections, but not in these,” Saldivar said. “They have to understand the importance of voting because they impact them directly, their community, their family, their county.”

Attendees shared experiences as immigrants or acquaintances of immigrants who have suffered racial profiling.

“We are all human beings and if we do things for humanity and share stories, we can do a lot because I believe that there is power in everyone and so use that power to fight against the oppression that keeps on attacking our communities,” said Damaris Gonzalez, a DACA recipient and organizer for United We Dream.