Jackson Free Press

Tatiana McDonald had modest beginnings when she arrived in the United States from Bogota, Colombia, eight years ago. "Before I entered the nonprofit world, I was always trying to make a living cleaning or babysitting, like most of us do when we come to the United States," McDonald says. "My first job in the nonprofit (as a legal assistant) was what made me want to do more. I was always trying to know more and more about the struggle immigrants face once they get here."

Today, McDonald works for the Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic, where she devotes her time to helping immigrants adapt to life in the United States and understand their rights.

McDonald, 37, attended Unitec University in Bogota, where she received a diploma in hotel management, and was a travel agent there. She first came to Jackson while on vacation to visit a friend who had also lived in Colombia. She ended up staying after meeting her former husband.

Like many immigrants, McDonald encountered difficulties after her arrival in the United States.

"I have experienced racial profiling and have been undermined by clerks at stores or at gas stations," McDonald says. "One of the greatest difficulties facing immigrants here is ignorance of the immigration laws at all levels. ... If a person looks Hispanic or Vietnamese, even if they were born here, they are being called 'illegals.' There is a lack of understanding that people who look like me can be U.S. citizens by birth 
or naturalization."

Through her own experiences and by seeing the difficulties faced by other immigrants, McDonald was motivated to make a difference.

"When you get to a (new) country, you really don't understand what your rights are or what you can do to make your life normal," McDonald says. "During my work with immigrants, I realized that immigrants, with or without documents, need a voice, so they can be heard."

McDonald has been a CCIC caseworker since April. "My job is to find out what I can do for each person," she says. "We help a lot of victims of domestic violence as well as victims of crimes. We encourage people to report any incident they have and to not be afraid of the police. We also give presentations on knowing your rights. Whether you have documents or not, you have rights in this country."

Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic is located at 200 N. Congress St., Suite 100. For more information, call 601-948-2635, or visit catholiccharitiesjackson.org.

Previous Comments

ID

165643

Comment

Very interesting story.

Author

Duan C.

Date

2011-12-22T12:15:39-06:00