Difference Maker (English)
Difference Maker (English

Published: July 13, 2008

Here are some thoughts on immigration reform, Oklahoma's immigration law, her work with victims of domestic violence and her passion for helping others:

On collaborating with area leaders in health, education, law to help migrant farm workers:

"I was part of a loose, informal group that we called the Migrant Coalition. … It was started by the migrant education program at OU (and involved different organizations). The greatest thing was we collaborated on outreach.”

On her work helping victims of domestic violence through Legal Aid of Oklahoma and the Latino Community Development Agency:

The Violence Against Women Act allows victims of abuse from a U.S. citizen or a legal, permanent U.S. resident to file papers to legalize on their own.

"If it weren't for the abuse, they would not be able to legalize.”

Giovanni said she has seen that the challenges and added stress that comes with trying to assimilate into a new country, the United States, and residents sometimes turn to alcohol and drugs to cope. Such addictions increase the possibility of abuse in the home, and Latino women deal with the abuse differently than others do.

"A lot of the women are focused on keeping the family together and unfortunately don't want to say anything or call the police. The good thing about the approach at the LCDA is they obtained grants and did studies and focus groups to find out how to deal with domestic violence in the Latino culture.”

On immigration laws in general:

"Security on the borders is important and on that I would say both borders, not just one. But I don't support a security-only approach. … It needs to be balanced between security and establishing a way for immigrants who want to be here and work here and do it in a way that's simple. Right now the process is extremely complicated.

"No one wants to spend the resources to deport the 12 million undocumented immigrants … intertwined with families. They definitely need complete immigration reform that creates a path for legalization issues between the countries. While there is such a disparity in the economies of the United States and Latin American countries, the United States is going to continue to be a magnet for the people who are coming in.”

On the presentations she has given about the controversial state immigration law:

"It's just a matter of trying to gather as much information about it and educating the public because the fear that they (state Latino immigrants) feel is based on not knowing what the law is and not knowing what's going to happen. Part of that I can help with because I think knowledge is power, so once they become informed, they can make educated decisions about whether they want to stay here or move.”

On House Bill 1804 and on the judge's ruling to throw out parts of House Bill 1804:

"I don't think 1804 benefits the state … My take is that I want there to be comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level because that's where it's needed and that's where it can be done. The states really don't have any jurisdiction in the area of immigration law so I think they should stay out of it. ...

"(The judge's ruling) gives people some hope. It had been quite depressing that the previous efforts had failed.

"The most positive change that I've noticed is evidence that we're not alone. Before 1804 was enacted, and I really can't speak for other people, I felt very much alone in the fight. I only seemed to hear from either leaders in the Latino community or they weren't necessarily Latinos (who) were the only ones crying out to stop 1804.

"After it was enacted and then became effective (last) November, there are a lot more people in the mainstream who finally have come to realize that, ‘hey, this isn't such a good idea for many reasons.'

"Some employees have noticed that their employees are hurt, others because they see their clientele are diminishing. And others for either moral or religious or philosophical reasons. They think it's just wrong to single out one group and treat them poorly.”

On her controversial remarks to a reporter for The Oklahoman three years ago that referred to arguments for immigration reform as "Nazi talk”:

"It made me a little more careful when speaking to reporters … I don't necessarily think that what I said was wrong because it applied to what the reporter and I were talking about.”

On her advice to state immigrants:

"All along my message has been to stay here in Oklahoma, that we are fighting this and we are going to continue to do our best to help immigrants.

On how she wants to make a difference:

"All I ever want to do is help make things better for my clients … I didn't really have a disadvantaged background. I'm not at the top and not at the bottom. I still feel I have special God-given talents that I feel need to be shared. There aren't that many Spanish-speaking attorneys out there. I feel passionate for standing up for people without a voice.”

On being known in high school as a "defender of lost causes”:

I feel like I need to help the underdog sometimes and with the Latin community, many of us are the same, but at the same time many of us are different. We can ignore that or we can put that aside and we can see a common goal in helping each other.”

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