VIDAS: A lifeline for immigrants in Vallejo

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VALLEJO —Inside the VIDAS office in Vallejo, the phones rarely stay silent for long. Each call brings a different story.

In Vallejo, the immigrant community is deeply woven into the city’s identity. They are business owners, workers, students, and parents. Yet, many live with the constant uncertainty that their legal status could unravel everything they have built.

At the heart of the city’s immigrant advocacy is VIDAS (Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Services), a nonprofit organization that offers low-cost and pro bono legal representation to those who would otherwise be left to navigate the system alone. Since its founding in 2014, VIDAS has provided thousands of immigrants with the legal support necessary to stay with their families, secure work permits, and apply for permanent residency.

The need for these services is greater than ever. Across the United States, only 30% of individuals facing deportation have legal representation, as reported in 2016 by the American Immigration Council. For many in Vallejo, VIDAS is the only option standing between them and an uncertain future.

A story of resilience and the birth of VIDAS

Marina Ordoñez, one of the co-founders of VIDAS, understands firsthand the trauma of being forced to flee home.

As a young woman in El Salvador, she was deeply involved in community activism. But as civil war spread across the country, she witnessed a wave of violence that claimed the lives of close friends and fellow organizers. When she and others were ambushed on the road one night, she survived, but some of her companions did not. She knew then that she had to leave.

Ordoñez fled to the U.S., where she was granted asylum with the help of a church network in Arizona. It was the kindness of strangers, the guidance of legal advocates, and the safety of a new community that allowed her to start over. Years later, she dedicated herself to ensuring other immigrants had the same chance.

In 2014, she and immigration attorney Richard L. Coshnear, along with two undocumented women from Mexico, officially launched VIDAS, a nonprofit dedicated to offering affordable immigration legal services. Since then, VIDAS has expanded its reach, operating in Vallejo, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and on the campuses of Santa Rosa Junior College and Napa Valley College to provide free legal services for students, faculty, and staff.

Yet, even with these resources, the need continues to grow.

The barriers immigrants face in Vallejo

Despite Vallejo’s central location in the Bay Area and expanding population, VIDAS highlighted that the struggle to provide adequate legal services for the city’s immigrant residents are significant:

• High Legal Costs: Immigration cases can take years, and private attorneys are often unaffordable, despite Vallejo’s median household income of $86,112, which remains below the California state average of $91,551.
• A Shortage of Immigration Attorneys: Few bilingual, affordable attorneys are available to represent immigrants in deportation or asylum proceedings.
• Fear and Misinformation: Many immigrants avoid seeking legal help due to misinformation, fear of ICE enforcement, or distrust of the system.
• Lack of Awareness: Some individuals do not realize they have legal options, believing there is no pathway to remain in the U.S.

VIDAS Executive Director Monica Julian has seen how these barriers create fear and uncertainty.

“Our phones are ringing constantly,” Julian said. “People are not just calling about themselves. They’re calling about their family members, their neighbors. There is a deep sense of vulnerability right now.”

For many immigrants, the challenges they face extend far beyond legal concerns. They are also carrying the weight of past trauma, family separation, and the anxiety of an uncertain future.

VIDAS integrates mental health and wellness support into its work. “We work with a lot of asylum seekers, victims of violence, people who have experienced deep trauma,” Ordoñez said. “Legal support is important, but so is emotional and psychological healing.”

By providing a trauma-informed approach, VIDAS ensures that both clients and staff have access to the resources needed to navigate these difficult situations.

Community engagement and upcoming events

Recently, VIDAS has intensified its efforts, hosting Know Your Rights workshops and free legal clinics in Vallejo and surrounding areas to inform immigrants about their options. These sessions provide critical information to help individuals understand their legal rights and navigate the complexities of the immigration system.

The next Know Your Rights session will take place in March at the VIDAS Vallejo office. This workshop will focus on rights when interacting with ICE and will include an orientation for individuals who have arrived within the past year and are considering applying for asylum. Space is limited, so those interested in participating should contact VIDAS directly to register.

In addition to its in-office workshops, VIDAS welcomes opportunities to collaborate with local organizations to host Know Your Rights sessions in larger community spaces. Organizations interested in partnering to expand access to these essential resources are encouraged to reach out to VIDAS to coordinate future events.

Upcoming events in Vallejo and Solano County:

• March – Asylum & Court Orientation at VIDAS' Vallejo Office. Contact the office by March 5th for more information and to register: (707) 523-1740 or (707) 654-8405.
• SAVV – Solano Advocates for Victims of Violence, a nonprofit serving victims throughout Solano County, is actively assisting immigrant communities with legal resources and advocacy. Learn more: https://www.savvcenter.org/

Fighting for a future in Vallejo

For many immigrants in Vallejo, legal status is not just a matter of paperwork, it is the difference between stability and uncertainty, safety and danger, belonging and exile.

Julian remains hopeful, not because the work is easy, but because of the resilience of the people VIDAS serves.

“What gives me hope is the way our community is showing up for each other,” she said. “People who have never thought much about immigration law before are now asking, ‘How can I help? What can I do?’ That’s what keeps us going.”

For Ordoñez, the most rewarding moments come when a long legal battle ends in success.

“I remember a woman who fled an abusive relationship in her home country, only to be shot during a robbery here in the U.S.,” she recalled. “She applied for a U Visa, and after years of waiting, she was finally approved. That moment, when someone who has suffered so much finally gains security and protection, that’s what keeps me fighting.”

In a city as diverse and dynamic as Vallejo, organizations like VIDAS remain at the forefront of immigrant advocacy, ensuring that everyone, regardless of immigration status, has access to the legal resources and support they deserve.

For more information, visit VIDAS’ website or contact their Vallejo office.