In one of his communication classes at 51ÁÔÆæ, his professor showed Jesus Velarde-Moctezuma and his classmates a photo of a banana leaf.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach one of us saw the same exact object but interpreted it very differently,\u201d he recalled. \u201cSome people said it was a leaf. The Latinos said that it was a type of plant used specifically for making a type of cuisine, a tamale. A few from the Middle East said it was something that they use for weddings, where they place food.\u201d<\/p>\n
He learned the lesson: People of different backgrounds and cultural experiences can perceive the exact same thing in totally different ways.<\/p>\n
Now, Velarde-Moctezuma is bringing that lesson to his new job. He was just hired as a bilingual legal assistant at the Odrcic Law Group, a firm that specializes in immigration law. As a person who shares a language and a culture with many of his clients, he\u2019s able to see a banana leaf from their perspective in a way that others might not.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that, especially as a Latino, I have status. I\u2019m a U.S. citizen. But I have family members who aren\u2019t, and I understand the struggle,\u201d Velarde-Moctezuma said.<\/p>\n
As a legal assistant, he is responsible for preparing legal forms and documents on behalf of clients, submitting forms or cover letters to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and interpreting English legalese for Spanish-speaking clients. The firm assists immigrants and others with obtaining visas and green cards, pursuing legal status, seeking asylum, fighting deportation, and more.<\/p>\n
Of course the attorneys do the heavy lifting, but Velarde- Moctezuma thinks of himself and the other legal assistants as \u201cside-kicks\u201d with their own hefty set of responsibilities. If a form is filed incorrectly or there is a mistake in a document that he prepared, he would be at fault.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s part of what inspires him to work so hard for his clients. Velarde-Moctezuma has seen both triumphs and heartbreaks in the course of his work.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur clients didn\u2019t ask where to be born. Some of these people who I speak with genuinely just want an opportunity,\u201d he said. He can\u2019t share specific information, but Velarde-Moctezuma noted his frustration when USCIS sends back a rejection notice, or denies his clients\u2019 claims.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the clients that I\u2019ve been assigned have stories that break my heart. But we make progress,\u201d he said. \u201cI call clients personally sometimes instead of emailing just to let them know that we\u2019re still working on their cases. My experience with my clients so far is really heartwarming. It gives me the drive and the motivation to keep advocating for them as much as I can with the little power that I have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even after he graduates, he\u2019d like to keep working to help immigrants. Velarde-Moctezuma plans to obtain graduate certificates in Translation and Interpreting Studies from 51ÁÔÆæ with a focus on legal interpretation. He also hopes to become an immigration attorney himself one day.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Velarde-Moctezuma is still working on his communication major. He was born and raised in Milwaukee and attended 51ÁÔÆæ because it was close to home and because he liked the resources for Latinx students on campus. He chose communication because he enjoyed his introductory classes in the subject, and because he wasn\u2019t good at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to not be very good at communication, and I wanted to enhance (my skills),\u201d he said. \u201cLearning those skills and abilities so I can enhance my speech and my credibility can really give me leverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the four months that Velarde-Moctezuma has worked at the law firm, he\u2019s found those skills invaluable \u2013 particularly the \u201cbanana leaf\u201d lesson where he learned to view things from different points of view. He finds himself empathizing with his clients, and they appreciate it.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of clients call the firm, and if I\u2019m not there, they\u2019ll leave a message or tell the other legal assistants that I should call them back. They want to talk to me,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously we\u2019re not miracle workers, and the law is the law. But what we can do is do the best that we can to advocate for clients.\u201d<\/p>\n