Mr. Speaker. I am honored to pay tribute to my good friend Eduardo Palacios. who for 27 years has been a bona fide hero to hundreds if not thousands of immigrants in the San Fernando Valley. In 1971. Eduardo started an immigrant rights and resource clinic in a tiny oneroom office in the City of San Fernando. Today these kinds of centers are common. but that wasnt the case in the early 1970s. Eduardo was motivated by humanitarian concerns and a strong sense of Chicano pride. He witnessed Mexican immigrants who were being exploited by unscrupulous businesses. Language and culture prevented many from seeking or receiving help. By offering his services. Eduardo filled a huge need. Soon after opening. the clinic moved into a room with a couple of desks and file cabinets in Santa Rosa Church. The clinic adopted the name Immigration Services of Santa Rosa. Using a corps of dedicated volunteers. Eduardo expanded the clinic to include job referrals. medical assistance. food and shelter. He was doing everything possible to provide his clients with the tools to make a good living in this country. Its hard to believe that Eduardo was doing this work while employed fulltime at Harshaw Chemicals. In 1983. he left his job with Harshaw to devote himself to assisting immigrants. Two years later Immigration Services of Santa Rosa was accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals. which led to more clients. The timing could not have been better. new arrivals were now coming to Southern California from Central America as well as Mexico. Immigration Services of Santa Rosa is a family affair. In 1988. Eduardo hired his daughter. Victoria Aldina. as Assistant Executive Director. three years later his son. Carl Alan. joined the organization as Administrative Director. Together the Palacios have been a godsend for Spanishspeaking immigrants. I ask my colleagues to join me today in saluting Eduardo Palacios. a leader in the effort to improve the lives of immigrants. His compassion. sensitivity and extraordinary energy inspire us all. I am proud to be his friend.
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immigrant immigrants Immigration