Farmworkers Face Eviction

Immigration Status Affects Dozens Of Families In Wasco

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Farmworkers in Wasco are taking action to keep their homes.

On Tuesday evening, hundreds of farmworkers and their families marched from Cormak Park in Wasco to City Council Chambers. They are protesting the Wasco City Housing Authority's recertification process, which could result in eviction notices for several families living in U.S. Department of Agriculture low-income housing.

The USDA provides low-income housing to qualified farmworkers. Each year the Housing Authority is responsible for vertifying tenants' legal status. But residents say this is the first time they've been asked to prove their immigration status.

If evicted many families say they will have no where else they can afford to go. They are hoping an AgJobs Bill pending in Congress will help their situation. If passed, it would allow thousands of undocumented farmworkers temporary legal status through the "Blue Card" program.

"We want them to hold off just a while longer on evicting us until the federal government comes up with a solution to immigration reform.," said Oralia Alverez. Alverez's husband is a farmworker. The couple has lived in their subsidized apartment for eight years.

The UFW, community organizations, and farmworkers are asking Wasco City Council to intervene with the Housing Authority to stop any potential evictions.

"We can throw things out but the city can't implement anything. Our hands are tied by the letter of the law." said Wasco Mayor Danny Espitia.

Rep. Jim Costa and state Sen. Dean Florez are working with the USDA to give families more time to find alternative housing if they are evicted.