Our coverage of Hispanic Heritage now takes us to Staten Island, where the first undocumented immigrant to receive a law license is using his legal skills to help inform and protect his community. Borough Reporter Amanda Farinacci has the story.

Imelda Castillo and Artemio Rosales have three sons in the military.

The Mexican immigrants say their boys constantly call home to check on them — with one major concern on their minds:

"They're afraid I'll end up deported and sent to Mexico," said Ismelda.

Fear of being deported is what drove the Port Richmond couple to the makeshift office of Cesar Vargas.

Vargas — who arrived in New York at the age of five from Mexico — is the first undocumented immigrant in the state to receive his law license.

And while his law practice is not yet officially set up -- he's already helping inform immigrants like Rosales and Castillo about their rights as military families:

"If you have a spouse or a child who is in the military, who has served the military, you can obtain a certain waiver, it's called parole in place," Vargas said. "That allows people who came here through the border or without inspection, to be able to change their immigration status here in the United States without leaving."

After he was sworn in back in February, Vargas spent months traveling the U.S. with the Bernie Sanders campaign.

That work ended with Sanders bid for the White House, but Vargas has remained an outspoken advocate for reforming national immigration policy.

Now he says he's ready to tackle issues closer to home.

"I haven't even publicly said that I'm setting up shop," Vargas said. "And people are already reaching out to me, setting up appointments on social media, Twitter, Facebook, calling me, which is great, and I try to take as many people as I can."

And for now, at least, he offers his help for free.

That's because Vargas says he cares more about his mission than making money.

In the coming months, he's planning a series of informational sessions on immigrant rights — providing access to counsel and educating his community.

"It's very difficult to get privileges in this country," said Artemio.

Vargas has started looking for an office of his own. With more space, he says, he'll be able to expand the legal services he's able to offer his community.