The Dane County Department of Human Services’ Immigration Affairs Office recently held its Luncheon Celebration Dec. 14 at the Goodman Community Center to celebrate work done so far in helping people navigate the legal and social challenges around immigration and legal status, along with work that will continue to be done in partnership with other community organizations and individuals.
Dane County Immigration Affairs Supervisor Fabiola Hamdan leads the charge in the Immigration Affairs Office and has pushed for there to be organized efforts in the area when the office began its development years ago. She was sure to recognize community and government partners in the room as many representatives such as Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway were present in support.
“We really are lucky to have your collision of assistance, advocacy, and commitment,” Hamdan said, thanking many of the community partners and representatives who have helped support their mission. “We’d like to believe that we are somewhat improving the lives of many individuals who are vulnerable. People that are living in the shadows, families that are separated, or lost their loved ones to deportation. People that are coming to this country for a better life, and we really take that seriously right to our heart. That’s why we are so lucky to do this type of work.”
A short video was also presented giving insight into what the Immigration Affairs Office has been facing given the last few years of attacks on immigration through actions such as DACA being terminated in 2022 as it stood, along with ICE raids in 2018 that left many in Wisconsin in fear. Hamdan spoke in the video on the need to increase resources and avenues for immigration and immigrants.
Hamdan’s passion for the work has been so consistently strong that County Executive Parisi made it a point to give her the credit specifically for manifesting the Immigration Affairs Office into reality.
“When we think of what our community would be like without this office and without Fabiola and her team, so many people and so many of our neighbors who need help in this life would have nowhere to turn and no place to start, so thank you,” said Parisi, praising Hamdan for her crucial leadership and motivation to develop the Immigration Affairs Office. “Thank you for making it so easy to create this office because everyone knows Fabi and everyone knows what a force of nature she is, and everyone knows that she never stops and she never stops helping other people. It’s what drives her. It’s what fuels her, and so we kind of had to create an office like this because we didn’t know what else to do with all Fabiola’s energy.”
Other people in the organization such as Jorge Salgado and Veronica I. Gonzalez Favela, both Social Service Specialist LTE’s, spoke in the video of dedication to both asylum seekers and organizing in the community to raise awareness and resources. Immigration Affairs Social Workers Charlyn Cruz Nuñez and Yesenia Villalpando-Torres discussed the actual work of managing cases and partnering with community organizations to give further support.
Of the special recognitions given, Centro Hispano of Dane County alongside the Community Immigration Law Center were both given recognition for their partnerships with the Immigration Affairs Office in providing resources, guidance, and support to people navigating immigration systems.
“CILC (Community Immigration Law Center), alongside Centro Hispano and our office, held monthly asylum orientations where we had approximately 20 to 40 people attend each one,” Villalpando-Torres explained. “At these orientations We had folks receive information about the asylum process and guidance on how to proceed when they arrive in the United States. Additionally, CILC implemented a pro se clinic where they actually help folks submit their asylum applications before they miss the one-year deadline that they have to submit.”
The remaining special recognition went to Rabbi Bonnie Margulis who was recognized individually for the dedication to allyship and humanity she extends in her efforts towards the Immigration Affairs Office mission as well. Hamdan ended with a surprise recognition of County Executive Parisi given his recent news of retirement, but was sure to share a story of Rabbi Margulis’ personal piece of the greater move towards empathy and care.
“I always think about a cold November night, when we had a single mom with four kids on the street,” recalled Hamdan who expressed gratitude for Rabbi Margulis’ continued partnership. “I didn’t know who to call. Then I called you and you were able to pick up the family, take them to the hotel, feed them and all of that. That’s just a very small example of how you’re really a great advocate and somebody that I can call on in the middle of the night and you will often show. I really thank you for always checking in with us.”
To learn more about the Immigration Affairs Office, visit their website here.
