Bakersfield Californian: Protesters decry evictions, Leases denied due to immigration status

Antonio Enriquez waits in Wasco city hall for the housing authority meeting to begin. About 200 people attended to protest the eviction of fellow farmworkers from the local farm labor camp because of their immigration status.

Arturo S. Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers, makes his way through a packed city hall in Wasco before the housing authority meeting Thursday. About 200 people attended to protest the eviction of fellow farmworkers from the local farm labor camp because of their immigration status.

At least three tenants have been notified since November that their leases won’t be renewed because they don’t have documents showing they are legal residents. The notice gives them three to four months’ notice that they must leave the apartments.

Other tenants, some of whom have lived in the apartments for 10 to 15 years, said this is the first time immigration status has been questioned when renewing the one-year leases. Many are fearful they will also be forced from their homes when their leases come up for renewal.

"We hope they could just suspend the eviction and hold off on making any decision until we see what happens at the federal level with legalization," said Miguel Raya, a farmworker who spoke in support of the tenants who face eviction.

On Wednesday, California’s Democratic senators introduced federal legislation that would allow illegal immigrants who have worked in agriculture for at least 150 days in the past two years to obtain legal resident status. After three more years, farmworkers could become eligible for citizenship.

Under contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Wasco Housing Authority manages about 200 apartments that range from $230 to $430 a month to farmworkers.

To live in the apartments, tenants must meet income requirements, work in the fields and be legal residents.

Because of their low cost, the dwellings are highly sought after. About 200 families are on a waiting list to get an apartment. The longest has waited nearly five years, according to housing authority officials.

The housing authority’s board of commissioners called Thursday’s meeting to discuss the eligibility requirements with tenants after several began raising questions at last month’s board meeting.

"It’s not our rules. It’s USDA’s rules," commissioner John Lynch said, referring to the legal residency requirement.

Several longtime members of the housing authority’s management left their positions several months ago, leading some at the meeting to speculate that the previous staff overlooked immigration status when renewing leases.

"We can’t answer for the prior administration," Lynch said.

United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez said the rules were antiquated and didn’t reflect the reality of today’s labor market.

"They’re doing a job no one else wants to do and now they’re being told they can’t live in a decent home," Rodriguez said. "You really have to look at the human side of the issue."

Lynch said the housing authority commission would be willing to write a letter in support of the farmworkers’ plight to the USDA and that it would work with state Sen. Dean Florez and U.S. Rep. Jim Costa to help the affected farmworkers.

But Lynch also encouraged farmworkers at the meeting to petition the USDA on their own.

"It’s always said there’s strength in numbers," he said. "Maybe your numbers need to approach that government office."

      
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