DREAM Graduation Makes a Splash

categories: DREAM Act, Immigration Reform

Published June 24, 2009 @ 08:00PM PT

Dreamers came out in force yesterday around the country, tired of living in the shadows, ready to be judged by their achievements and aspirations rather than their paperwork.

Sonia spoke out on RaceWire:

That’s how I grew up, believing that my dreams counted as much any other kid. I was born in Ecuador, but raised in Harlem. All I knew was this country. My understanding of things was that I was as much a part of this country as any other person.

The NY Times took note of the main event in Washington, D.C.:

[Dreamers] want to go into international relations, psychology, chemistry, engineering, mass communications, political science. But one is a handyman; the others work in restaurants and as church volunteers. The drive to Washington took them 18 hours. They looked tired, solemn, defiant, hopeful in the way young people have that banishes cynicism. They seemed incredulous that a message they grew up with — work hard, stay in school, study and you will succeed — does not apply to them.

Kyle breaks it down at Citizen Orange, and I know we see eye to eye on this.

Go to the source for DreamACTivist's editorial.

A dedicated contingent in Houston rallied for DREAM.

Students and teachers at Miami Dade College demonstrated for one of their own:

. . . Walter Lara, a 23-year-old Argentine who moved to Miami when he was 3 and is to be deported July 6. Lara graduated from Honors College with a computer animation degree in 2007, but was arrested by immigration authorities in February while installing satellite dishes for DirecTV.

''Now that we have educated this individual with 15 years of public American education, we are going to send him back to a foreign country, '' said Rolando Montoya, provost of Miami Dade College. ``I consider that a waste.''

Take action here to help stop Walter's deportation.

And if you haven't yet asked your congressional reps to support the DREAM Act, click your delinquent self over to the Dream action. It's ok, I forgive you. But seriously, do it, it's easy.

[Image uploaded to Flickr by americasvoice]

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Comments (2)

Hi.

I'm a journalist and I'm working on an article about the Dream Act for a Web site that is to be launched this summer by The State of the USA (http://www.stateoftheusa.org/).

I think it's really important to personalize the story by showing the struggle undocumented students have and the need for the Dream Act. I was wondering if you would be available to talk with me over the phone about your struggles. I've talked to my editor and I'd only use your first name in the article in order to protect your identity.

Like I said, I think this is an extremely important part of the story in order for people to understand the problems undocumented students face. If you are interested or know of anyone who may be please contact me at jamolenaar@gmail.com or at 740-739-7217. I'd really, really appreciate your time. This is a story the American public really needs to know about.

Thanks,
Jenelle Molenaar
Freelance Journalist
jamolenaar@gmail.com

Posted by Jenelle Molenaar on 06/25/2009 @ 11:02AM PT
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Just wanted to link to a blog post on the Women of Color Policy Network's blog about the DREAM graduation

http://wagner.nyu.edu/wocpn/blog/2009/06/25/life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-dream.html

Posted by Joan Flores on 06/26/2009 @ 01:18PM PT
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David is an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he helps immigrants to the U.S. navigate the complex immigration legal system. Views he expresses at change.org are his alone and don't represent the views or opinions of his employer, Nationalities Service Center. The information contained on this site is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only.