Gov. Katie Hobbs celebrates Latino initiatives in Arizona, promises to keep fighting for Dreamers

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"They wanted to bury us not knowing we were seeds."

That's how Phoenix activist Viridiana Hernandez celebrated the progress that Latinos have made in Arizona, despite how different a state it was just over a decade ago when SB1070 went into effect and immigrants found themselves living in the shadows because of it. Now, many undocumented students have access to in-state tuition, immigrants can use their consular card as official identification and more Latinos are becoming registered voters and making their way to the polls.

Latino-led initiatives are to thank for those changes.

“SB1070 was a law to bring down the Latino community, to put an end to immigrants. But what has happened since then is that we were seeds that have been sowed, and now we are reaping ten years of organizing, ten years of much sacrifice,” said Hernandez, director of Poder in Action, a Phoenix-based organization that seeks to empower Latino community members.

She was one of those in attendance at Wednesday's event at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Phoenix, where activists and state officials alike celebrated the victory of Latino-led initiatives, as well as the empowerment of Latino voters.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and other state officials were also present at the event organized by the American Business Coalition for Immigration and Chicanos Por La Causa.

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During the event, Hobbs once again made a commitment to supporting Dreamers and their academic futures, considering the matter "a priority" for her administration. During her first State of the State address, Hobbs said she would commit $40 million towards the Dreamers Scholarship Program.

"Earlier this year, I proposed that we expand scholarships to Dreamers and undocumented students who want to go to one of Arizona's universities," Hobbs said. "And I am so pleased to be able to share that the Arizona Board of Regents have made a commitment to ensure that Dreamers will have greater access to scholarships that will make their college education more affordable at ASU, NAU and the University of Arizona."

Those present also applauded the success of Proposition 308, approved by voters in November which grants access to in-state tuition to some Dreamers in the state, as well as the decisive power that Latino voters had during the midterm elections.

"We reached out and (Latino voters) answered the call, with the Latino vote deciding many outcomes in this past election and subsequently in future elections," said David Adame, president and CEO of Chicanos Por la Causa, in reference to the Latino Loud campaign that invested $10 million in order to get more Latinos registered to vote.

"There is much work ahead. There are many challenges, inequities and injustices still facing Arizona and the Latino community," Adame said. “But if we work together, there is no challenge that cannot be overcome. There is no inequity or injustice that cannot be erased. There is no limit to the success that individuals, families and communities can achieve if given the chance."

Proposition 308, 'not just a victory for the Dreamers'

The success of Proposition 308 was reflected in the life of Delia Rodriguez, 20, a Dreamer originally from Jalisco, Mexico, who was brought to the United States by her parents when she was 2 years old.

Speaking from the podium at the Renaissance Hotel, Rodriguez highlighted the importance of making higher education accessible to all.

“Now education in Arizona is affordable and accessible to all students regardless of their immigration status,” said Rodríguez. "This victory is not just a win for Dreamers; it is a triumph for justice, equality, and the belief that every child, regardless of their background, deserves a chance to pursue their dreams."

Rodriguez and like-minded students and activists were essential in getting Prop 308 on the ballot and ultimately approved, gaining bipartisan support of the initiative that provides many Arizona high school graduates, regardless of immigration status, the opportunity to pay in-state tuition.

Although her parents never hid from her that she was born in Mexico, it was shortly before finishing high school that she began to understand what it meant to be undocumented.

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“I watched my friends get their driver's licenses, choose the university they wanted to attend and many other things that I couldn't do,” Rodrguez told The Arizona Republic.

Her dream was to get into Arizona State University, something that was almost impossible for her since she would have to pay 3 times more tuition than any other Arizona resident.

Instead, she chose to attend Grand Canyon University, a private campus, where she is currently pursuing a degree in social work. While Proposition 308 does not impact her on a private campus, she applauded the passing of the ballot initiative, saying it has made life easier for her and for thousands of students without legal status.

“I think it is a success to celebrate what the approval of Proposition 308 has been. It took a lot of effort and it is still emblematic in terms of the advancement of the rights of the migrant community in Arizona,” Jorge Mendoza Yescas, the Consul of Mexico in Phoenix, told The Republic. “We are talking about that with this initiative and with the SB1420 initiative, which approved the consular registration card as official identification, the context changes radically from what Arizona was 10, 15 years ago,” he said.

Petra Falcón, director of Promesa Arizona, said that Latinos are the ones who are changing the course of this country and that Arizona politicians know this because they've started to turn to the Latino vote during election periods.

“The message is clear, if you are a Republican or a Democrat, you need the Latino vote and you have to work with us, just like we do with them — it takes an effort from both parties,” said Falcón.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hobbs celebrates Latino initiatives, commits to keep fighting for Dreamers