For Gustavo Torres, the anti-immigrant fervor that's taken hold in the United States cuts him like a knife. In Maryland, where he serves as executive director of CASA de Maryland, the largest Latino and immigrant organization in the state, one of CASA's day worker centers was recently doused with gasoline during its opening week. "It is really hard to see the way some people treat my community,” he says. "It breaks my heart."
But the former journalist was born and bred a fearless activist, starting out as a student and union leader in his native Columbia. He learned early on the need for people—particularly those who are marginalized—to develop strong organizing and advocacy skills. "I wanted to help people develop their voice," he says. "There are a lot of people that no one is helping to integrate into our communities."
In addition to organizing and advocacy, CASA offers a broad range of services to more than 20,000 low-income women, workers, and tenants in 7 locations in Maryland: job placement, vocational training, financial literacy, language instruction, citizenship classes, health, social, and legal services. According to CASA, 98,000 immigrants in Maryland are legal permanent residents eligible for US citizenship, but are not receiving assistance to prepare for and take the exam.
Torres is masterful at creating partnerships with government and civic organizations and astute at working both sides of the political aisle to educate policymakers. CASA's advocacy efforts are currently focused on in-state tuition for talented immigrant students, a domestic worker's bill of rights, immigrant access to driver's licenses in Maryland, and opposition to the 20 anti-immigrant bills introduced in the General Assembly.
Now the organization is in the midst of a $27 million campaign to renovate an historic building into a multicultural center to ensure long-term stability at all of its facilities and to move staff and clients from overflow trailers.
Given the current political climate it's not clear where the issue of immigration will land. Yet Gustavo Torres remains optimistic about this country and has hopes for a comprehensive immigration plan. "I believe in the American people."
