Green Bay city leaders have joined with the immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera to help area Hispanic groups better understand their rights in light of the recent national effort to deport undocumented immigrants.
Voces de la Frontera, Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith, Mayor Jim Schmitt, and Pastor Ricardo Torres will all be a part of a workshop Saturday to discuss things like immigration laws and getting correct citizen documents.
The event is expected to draw more than 300 people, according to Pastor Torres.
"Because through these resources, we're going to be able to bring security to our people and we're going to be able to provide that peace that is lacking in many of our families," Pastor Torres said through his daughter Alma, who translated for him.
Pastor Torres helped develop the workshop because of concerns he's heard from neighbors.
"Overall, we want the community to be informed about the actual thing that's happening and the actual rights that they have," Pastor Torres explained.
That's the same goal Chief Smith has.
"I think we have thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, living in this area, so its a big concern for them," he said. "What's happening, what kind of changes are being made, what kind of enforcement may be changed in the future. There are a lot of questions, and a lot of anxiety."
Many Mexican immigrants are worried of possibly being deported, according to Chief Smith. His biggest priority is putting people's safety and comfort first, he said.
"We want to assure people, especially our immigrants, that we want to protect them, make sure they're kept safe," Chief Smith said. "That they can come to the police department for problems, or if they're victims of crime, without fear we're going to arrest them based on their immigration status.
The workshop will also include information on dual citizenship. It is being held at the Vida Nueva United Methodist Church in Green Bay on Saturday, March 11th at 1 p.m.
