Oral History of Juan Fernando Soto, interviewed by Jonah Trimnal, 30 March 2021

Oral History of Juan Fernando Soto, interviewed by Jonah Trimnal, 30 March 2021

Fernando Soto was born in 1984 in San Pedro de las Colonias, Coahuila, Mexico. When he was seven years old, his family immigrated to the USA. Soto remembers growing up on Johns Island, SC, and reflects on how this small rural community has changed over time. He attended Spring Hill College in Alabama and earned a bachelor’s in journalism. Soto talks about his decision to follow this professional path and states his family background informs his interest and passion for the field. He asserts he is not an activist but a journalist reporting on issues relevant to the Latino community. He talks about the Charleston Immigrant Coalition (CIC), explaining its beginnings and the issues it champions, particularly the end of the 287(g) program in Charleston County. Soto addresses the impact of COVID 19 in the Latino community and the disparities in access to care, stressing these same Latinos who are ignored by the government are the essential workers that keep the city alive and thriving. Finally, he reflects on the multilayered and complex scenarios Latinos face when they decide to leave home and cross the border.

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English

Text

https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1661

Charleston (S. C.)

67 minutes

Jonah Trimnal

Juan Fernando Soto

Charleston, South Carolina via Zoom