Greeley – Patricio Chavez is considering going to Argentina to study art even though he was offered a scholarship to the Maryland College Institute of Art.
The fine print in the college’s letter crumbled his dream. It said he had to be a legal U.S. resident or citizen to accept.
Chavez, 19, shared his story with nearly 200 people gathered Wednesday night at Our Lady of Peace Church in Greeley.
The testimonial format of the meeting in Greeley was set up to offer local officials and congressional representatives a glimpse into the lives of those affected by current immigration laws.
A teacher shared the plight of children left parentless because of the recent immigration raids at the Swift meatpacking plant. A local used-car dealer said he has seen his business plummet 40 percent in one year because of new identification laws.
If immigration reform from Congress doesn’t soon provide a way for Chavez to become legalized, the Ecuadorian teen – in the U.S. since he was 3 – said he may take his artistic talent to South America.
“It’s ironic. My mom came here to give me an education, and now I can’t get it because of my status and I may leave,” he said. “I want to see my mom and everyone like us who has been here and contributed to society get the fruits of our labor.”
Organizers invited Greeley Mayor Tom Selders as well as various local officials and representatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard.
Only Salazar’s representative was present along with the president of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce and a community outreach worker from Congregations Building Community.
The Rev. Bernie Schmitz said he was disappointed some of those invited did not attend. Some planned to but were called away at the last minute, while others had conflicting engagements.
Organizers initially thought Selders would attend, but he called and canceled before the meeting, they said.
Contacted by phone, the mayor said he had other plans of a “personal” nature.
“There must have been a misunderstanding. … I had never told them I would attend,” Selders said.
Jan Groom, a human-relations commissioner in Greeley, is hoping reform comes quickly.
“We need to have more meetings,” she said. “If you know people, you don’t hate people.”
Staff writer Manny Gonzales contributed to this report.
