In January, farmworkers in Half Moon Bay were left in shock after an armed gunman killed seven victims and seriously wounded another. While law enforcement began their investigations, the farmworkers and their families were offered shelter at a local hotel. Soon concerns were raised about their onsite housing and working conditions. County officials turned to Legal Aid SMC to assess the legal needs of those affected by the shootings.
The nonprofit law firm is a trusted organization within the community with over 60 years of service devoted to San Mateo County, so the call was not a complete surprise to Executive Director Stacey Hawver. She reached out to the program teams and put together a group of dedicated staff members to meet with affected families in Half Moon Bay the following day.
Daniela Guillen, a bilingual Housing Project Coordinator, joined Stacey for the first shift in a hotel conference room set up as a temporary recovery center. “They really wanted to share their experiences,” she noted. She described being initially overwhelmed by the emotions expressed as the farmworkers told her about what they’d seen and heard a few days before. With questions ranging from housing to immigration, Daniela focused on collecting their contact information and listening to their concerns.
Five more staff members represented Legal Aid SMC over the day. They met with twenty-five families, the majority of which spoke Spanish; listening, answering questions, and referring them to appropriate resources. In the following days, Zayra Gonzalez, a LIBRE Project Coordinator, followed up with each household to determine what specific services Legal Aid SMC could provide.
Several local law firms reached out to Legal Aid SMC, asking how they could assist. Pro Bono Director Stephanie Bilinski is now working to connect farmworkers who may be eligible for immigration relief to pro bono attorneys who can support them. The immigration legal landscape is continuously evolving, so Legal Aid SMC attorneys spent hours researching visa and work permit eligibility for mass shooting survivors and victims of labor rights violations.
At Legal Aid SMC, we’re dedicated to helping families break through the barriers created by poverty. Assisting law enforcement and labor regulators with investigations may qualify these farmworkers for work permits, which means access to jobs with better conditions and higher wages. To learn more about the impact of accessible legal services, visit legalaidsmc.org.