‘This is the time to speak up’

With a flowery-navy-blue maxi dress that made actress, author and activist Diane Guerrero look like a real-life Hispanic princess, she entered the Texas Southmost College Arts Center Thursday night with a huge smile on her face.

“It is an honor to me to share this space with you,” said Guerrero, who stars in the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black” and the CW’s “Jane the Virgin.” “You guys could be anywhere in the world but you’re here with me.”

As the crowd continued to clap and cheer, Guerrero sat down on one of the fancy upholstered chairs that were on the middle of the stage, revealing her black high heels.

Next to her was the moderator for the show, Derick Garcia, a reporter for KVEO-TV Channel 23.

Diane Guerrero and moderator Derick Garcia speak about topics ranging from immigration reform, DACA, Latin American writers and performers, President Donald Trump, her book and the importance of voting in the upcoming elections for Congress.

“When I’m not trying to knock down doors in Hollywood, literally banging down the doors saying ‘I belong here too’ … I am going to different schools, like this one, and try to share my experiences, trying to be part of the conversation and trying to be included,” Guerrero said.

She is the author of “In the Country We Love: My Family Divided,” a memoir about her parents and brother who were deported to Colombia after “trying desperately to become residents” when she was only 14 years old.

“My family is still in Colombia. … They’ve sort of just have been there waiting for something to change,” Guerrero tearfully told the audience of more than 600 people. “They’ve hit the 10-year ban already … [and] when I was able to come out with my story and actually have the means to help them … I started that process a little late, around the elections, [and] when 45, [President Donald Trump], was elected, my lawyers advised me to kinda chill out and just kinda stop paperwork at that point because any sort of mistake, any sort of little snag could just ruin the chances for my family to come back.”

Oscar Pacheco (right), a studio art freshman, gives Diane Guerrero, star of “Orange Is the New Black,” a custom-made coat as a gift. Students showed their appreciation of Guerrero’s attendance throughout the event.

Sixteen years after her family was deported, she has seen improvements in immigration reforms, such as DACA, but hopes in the next 16 years, there will be a real and permanent solution to the issue.

“I wanna see our community treated with respect and dignity and I wanna see a comprehensive immigration reform get passed,” Guerrero said. “We talk about DACA and, like, leave DACA alone. That’s the only thing that is working, but that is only a temporary solution. We need to see actual changes.”

In an interview with The Rider and UTRGV TV earlier in the day, she said there are still some stigmas that need to be broken for women in Hollywood.

“It is very narrow. It’s either you’re dumb or you’re very tough,” Guerrero said about roles for women.

Asked about how sometimes her attractive characters, Lina and Maritza, have to play dumb to achieve what they want, she replied there should not be a correlation between being attractive and being dumb.

“Certainly, being attractive isn’t a correlation to being dumb,” Guerrero said. “I mean, look at Donald Trump, he’s hideous and really, really dumb.”

The actress said there is a need in Hollywood for Latino writers, actors and directors, especially Latinas.

“You see with characters like Jane, [from ‘Jane the Virgin,’] how they’re smart, compassionate and very dynamic, I think there just needs to be more roles for Latino characters,” she said.

Attendees had the opportunity to ask Guerrero questions during a Q&A session that lasted more than 30 minutes.

“This is the time to join forces like never before and to stand our ground,” she said. “This is the time to speak up.”