In October, the Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) brought together representatives from a wide variety of professions across the county to discuss issues and challenges faced by the immigrant population.
Attended by approximately 150 people, participants heard presentations by university professors, advocates, and attorneys from many organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, the United Farmworkers Foundation, the National Immigration Law Center, the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, California State University, Northridge, the Jakara Movement, and Faith in the Valley.
Convened with the intent to raise awareness, educate attendees, and clarify common misconceptions about immigrant communities, GBLA also aimed to inspire others to help and protect vulnerable immigrant communities.
Also addressed during the conference was the GEO Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield. Many attendees were unaware that ICE has a local detention center. Read more about it on
South Kern Sol.