Former CSULB professor and pro-immigrant activist leaves a legacy with his passing

Armando Vazquez-Ramos, who taught Chicano-Latino Studies at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) for 25 years, died of cancer on August 4 at his home in Long Beach. He was 74. 

Vazquez-Ramos, known by many as “El Profe,” was an avid advocate for the Chicano and immigration movements. However, since 2010, he gained wider recognition for his advocacy for Dreamers and for creating the first Dreamers Study Abroad Program in 2014. This educational program helped Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients travel outside the United States and return legally under the Advance Parole (A.P.) status. Their legal entry allowed many DACA youth easier access to legal paths to regularize their status.

El Profe’s daughter, Luz Vazquez-Ramos, said her father did great things for the Latino community and was outspoken about social injustice. She said he was not a traditional parent and didn’t think he was meant to be a retired person sitting on the porch. 

Although his cancer diagnosis was a shock for family and friends, his daughter assured he didn’t suffer for long and died with the dignity that he wanted. 

“He passed away quickly. He didn’t want to be sitting around and do treatments,” she said. 

Vazquez-Ramos was born in Mexico City and migrated with his parents and siblings to the U.S. at 12. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Northeast Los Angeles and, from a very young age, became interested in ethnic studies and the Chicano Movement.

El Profe earned his bachelor’s degree in Mexican American studies and a master’s in Psychology from CSULB, where he later returned as a faculty member. As a professor, Vazquez-Ramos taught and mentored thousands of students who later became professionals in many careers. He retired from CSULB in 2020.

He created the first high school-level ethnic studies classes piloted at El Rancho Unified School District, Long Beach Unified School District and CSULB. He managed those classes–which are still being offered in schools–until 2022. 

“The idea is that high school students can receive five units of college credit for taking the ethnic studies Saturday classes,” explained Luz. 

A program to travel abroad

In 2010, Vazquez-Ramos founded the non-profit California-Mexico Studies Center, Inc. (CMSC) to conduct research and establish policies while creating bridges to form exchange programs between higher educational institutions, governmental agencies and social organizations in California and Mexico. 

While researching the work that can be done with academic institutions in both countries, the U.S. and Mexico, Vazquez-Ramos learned about A.P. and how it could help students who are DACA beneficiaries visit Mexico, learn more about their roots and return safely to their homes in the U.S. Many of these DACA recipients left Mexico when they were very young and had very vague memories. A.P. has been approved under three circumstances; humanitarian reasons, educational or job-related purposes. In this case the Dreamers Study Abroad Program qualified under educational purpose. 

“This was a new concept that no one was doing,” said Luz. 

They began working to take groups of students,  receiving support from local entities and elected officials in gathering letters of support for A.P. There are an estimated 800 students from all over the country who have benefited from this program over the past 10 years. 

Infinite gratitude from mentees

Victoria Sandoval, 30, is a DACA recipient. She said El Profe’s motivational words taught her to be a fighter and advocate for what she believes is right in all aspects of life.

Sandoval migrated with her parents from Mexico when she was two years old. However, in 2017, her father decided to self-deport after finding many obstacles to prospering in life. In 2021, Sandoval heard about a program helping DACA students travel outside of the U.S. and return safely. Although she hesitated a bit, she gained confidence and called for more information. 

Growing up, Sandoval remembers she would hate her dark skin color because she didn’t feel Mexican enough and she didn’t know her native country or American enough because she was undocumented.

“I wasn’t what other people wanted me to be,” she said. 

However, after meeting with Vazquez-Ramos, she regained confidence and learned to love her skin color and roots. She became an activist and advocacy leader for the undocumented community. 

“El Profe instilled that fire in me, and he told us we had to pass the torch,” said Sandoval. 

She is attending CSU Poly Pomona, where she studies construction engineering. She said she will never leave the pro-immigration movement even when she goes to her field. 

“I always felt Profe made me feel part of the family,” she said. 

Citlali Ortiz, 24, met El Profe in 2016 during a pivotal time in her life. She remembers feeling deceived and fearful when Trump won the presidency. 

“As DACA recipients, we were immediately targeted in so many ways and I felt like the hope that was left in me was being stripped away from me and my family,” she said.

However, when she spoke to Vazquez-Ramos, he immediately offered guidance and taught her how to turn her feelings into actions to change her life. 

“A few months after meeting Profe I began working at his non-profit in Long Beach and we began organizing an advocacy campaign with DACA recipients from across the nation to meet with legislators in Washington D.C.,” she said.

This time was a life-changing experience for her and a means to find the power within herself. She remembers El Profe as a tenacious person who always stood firm in his convictions. Because of his mentorship, Ortiz was able to apply for the Study Abroad Program and visited her native Jalisco, Mexico after 20 years. 

“Though he is no longer with us, the principles he championed and the knowledge he shared will continue to guide me,” said Ortiz.

The change was not only among the students but also with parents. Elsa Osorio is a mother of two DACA recipients from Arizona. While her eldest daughter, Erika Alvallar, obtained her residency before meeting El Profe, she continued fighting for the undocumented community, and that’s when she heard about him. A little later, Osorio got involved, and in 2019, she met Vazquez-Ramos during the Washington D.C. campaign to advocate for A.P.

“We were a group of undocumented mothers, and El Profe taught us how to be resilient. He taught us we can’t let others belittle us if we fight for what we know is right,” she said.

Unfortunately, Erika passed away at the age of 30 in 2021, and while it was a challenging time for Osorio, she continued her activism to honor her daughter. In October 2023, she traveled to Los Angeles and met Vazquez-Ramos again during a public event. 

Osorio said she found his words of support and understanding very comforting. She hugged him and told him he looked good, and she wished she could be like him: strong, resilient, and motivated.

“Then he told me, ‘Careful with what you say because you don’t know what’s going on,’” she said.

She wonders if he already knew about his diagnosis then. 

Luz said her father leaves a legacy of tenacious and courageous young people. Through him, they learned they must lift each other as a community and that there is always room for improvement. 

“When we talk to students we always learn how can we [CMSC] do better,” said Luz. 

With her dad’s passing, Luz has become the executive director of CMSC, and she said the Travel Abroad program will continue. 

In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations to create a memorial fund. 

Those interested in donating can visit:https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-profe-armando-vazquezramos-legacy