Your mom and aunt should be arrested and thrown the book at.  These are not victimless crime.  The additional strain placed on American educational resources; the American student who loses his place to accommodate you; the loss by your native country of such a talented individual. You have well described the awful ravages of 'brain drain'. 

Kurt why are you always behaving like this?... like i dont get you dude... colleges across the country are lacking on filling the student gaps. Since many high school students graduate and never go to college. some just drop out. theres this state i think its Alabama, im not really sure... it had a drop out rate of 75%... if you want to do well in school, its only up to YOU... oh i forgot, blame the immigrants for that too. The whole county doesnt have the education it used to have... Come on man ive been all over the country, from Florida to Texas, to Georgia and South Carolina.. all ritch snobby kids that for them mommy and daddy are always gona be there even IF they dont do well in shcool... some of us dont have a mommy and daddy... education is the most beautiful thing in the world. educated people are informed better in life.

I agree that education is the most beautiful thing in the world.  It is in being educated that you are fully able to give back to the world, and if colleges want to fill their student gaps they should lower their tuition...like Alex said, most of us don't have rich mommies and daddies, and it's hard to pay for college.

I hope that you can find a way to stay in America, Isabel.  It's so sad to read stories like yours, and I'm hoping the DREAM Act gets passed.

It is not your fault that you were put in this predicament and I can't imagine what that would be like, this is your home and this is where your dreams take place but illegal would be immigrants can't be encouraged by the people before them being able to so easily fly under the radar. This is a controversy that, much like the issue of abortion, will never be settled. There is no comfortable middle ground. There are pros and cons to both sides of this particular issue, I do wish you the best and that you are able to obtain your papers and your dreams but know that there is a purpose for you life and wherever God wants you is where He will put you. God bless and thanks for sharing your story. 

"Your mom and aunt should be arrested and thrown the book at."

Kurt, the reason why I feel comfortable sharing my story is that we have a case pending for a U-visa. Just to let you know, a U-visa catagory was created under the VAWA - the Violence Against Women Act. My mother came here legally and because of the abuse we suffered, it was also part of the reason why she overstayed her visa. We weren't allowed to leave. As far as my aunt, there is no evidence of her crime, so nothing is going to happen to her. Get over it.

"The additional strain placed on American educational resources; the American student who loses his place to accommodate you;"

I pay for my school with scholarships given to me. My 16,000 private scholarship is for being on the Dean's List every semester. I earned it just like another other student who receives the same scholarship. That scholarship can't be given to someone who didn't earn it, citizen or not. Any other amount, my parents pay. Not a single dime comes from the government. Not a penny.

And curiously, none of my classes are filled to capacity. If there's extra chairs in the room, clearly I'm not taking anyone's spot. And even if I did, they should have worked as hard as me. And if they didn't make it, then they don't have the intelligence or the drive. Other people's shortcomings are not my problem.

"the loss by your native country of such a talented individual."

Thank you, Kurt. I strive to be the best that I can be given my temporary circumstances. However, what you fail to see (and maybe you didn't read my last paragraph) is that another country's loss is the United State's gain. In a time when India graduates 28 engineers for every 1 American engineer, the US needs all the brain power it can get. When China is busy building universities and the US is floundering in teaching math and science skills, that is when we need increased brain here at home. That is why we have visas for educated foreigners and why people such as Bill Gates advocate for increases to those visas. DREAM Act beneficiaries have the added benefit of culture: we grew up here, we know the customs, we know the history. DREAM Act students and future military leaders are a gain. A net plus, if you will. Which is why when talk about "the awful ravages of 'brain drain', " I can respond by letting you know that students like me are untapped resources against this "brain drain" that is happening here.

Let's face it: not every American goes to college. Likewise, not every undocumented student has the opportunity to go to college. However, how can you turn away students like me who sincerely want the best for this country because they love this country as much as you do. Think about that Kurt. How can you say no to those that want to educate themselves. It's rather hypocritical to want the best for American and yet turn away students like me who want to help the US be the best country int the world and to get the economy back on track.

Isabel;I'd like to learn more about this VAWA - the Violence Against Women Act.  What sort  of abuse did you and your mother suffer?Peace.

I freaking love you! I am an undocumented student with a 3.93 GPA and my dream is to go to med-school however med-schools do not accept undocumented students. All I want to do is save people's lives but I might never get the chance to...

I completely understand you, it's stupid. I was 5 years old as well when my parents made the decision for me and now I have to live my life like this. I can't live a normal 18year-old life. I cant drive, I cant go to R rated movies, I cant do anything because I have no ID. But the worst is I am barely getting through college I can't get loans so even though I am a 3.93 GPA student I might not be able to finish college or for that matter go to med-school which has been my life-long dream.

Thank you for sharing your story, Isabel.  I wish you luck in your case.

Here is a good summary of the VAWA self-petition process for battered spouses and children of US citizens or permanent residents: http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=10270&state_code=US&open_id=10837

The U Visa petition is a separate process for victims of crimes inside the U.S., and requires certification by a law enforcement agency investigating or prosecuting the crime.  The best summary of the requirements for this petition is probably found in the USCIS instructions to the petition, especially the first page (pdf): http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-918instr.pdf

Neither process is particularly easy, as anyone who's been through one of them can attest to.  Most people would be shocked to know the kinds of things that go on when abusers know their victims have no legal status and live in fear of being deported.

Isabel, ignore the haters. keep your head up and keep fighting the good fight. Dream will pass!!!

Hey Kurt keep in mind that this is America, the most driven and intelligent will succeed in this country. How dare you attempt to accuse her that she is the reason that American students are losing their place in the education system. Look don't blame foreigners for being able to compete and succeed the intellectuality of many Americans. Face it the only Americans that are losing their places as you say are the ones who are extremely lazy and depend on the government to baby them throughout their lifetime, I am almost appalled as to how much assistance is given to American citizens who do not wish to pursue post secondary education, but instead live a life of miniscule importance and no ambition. Competition is inevitable and it weeds out the "weak", blame lethargic American students not driven individuals you fool.

You are the future of our country. We need you - your talents, your skills, your passion. You have something to contribute and you CAN make a difference - this goes for all the dreamers. So please continue your education.

Recently, I read an inspiring article about an undocumented student who became a neurosurgeon: Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa. At the age of 19, he hopped a border fence from Mexico into the United States. He started out as a migrant farmworker and a painter. But he worked hard, taking night courses and studying English in his spare time. He eventually got a scholarship to attend U.C. Berkeley. After CAL (my alma mater), he went on to Harvard Medical School and eventually joined the staff at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a neurosurgeon. He has won numerous awards for his research into the role of stem cells in brain tumors. But just imagine if he had been apprehended before he could obtain his citizenship - what a loss to this country!

So please, if you can, ignore the haters…they are a dying breed. You are intelligent and you are going to go far, Isabel.  So I hope you continue to believe in yourself. You have something important to offer this country. We need people like you, so I am glad you are here. As Barack Obama has said, the dreamers who came here as children ARE Americans in every way, except for a piece of paper. You are one of us! So, we want to be sure that you and other dreamers have chance to contribute your talents to this country. That's why we need to work as hard as we can to pass the Dream Act. Si, se puede!!

I guess I'm confused, isabel.  First you say: "My parents made the decision to try their luck in the US, the land of opportunity....My dad came at a later date, having been sponsored by a different aunt."
And then when I try to get more information from you, you come up with this "VAWA - the Violence Against Women Act. My mother came here legally and because of the abuse we suffered,"

I think your story is shallow, and you are doing a very good creative writing job.

Thought you were genuinely interested in her situation, Kurt.  Thought I detected a glimmer of empathy.  I won't make that mistake again.

Going after victims of DV ... that's pretty low.

Sayuri Jane and Lisa Pelletier, thank you very much for your kind words. The haters don't faze me for it simply means that I have something that they don't.

Dave, thank you for you support and good thoughts. Also, I am sorry you have to put up with the ignorance of others on your portion of this site. It must be exhausting having to scrub the posts from their verbal diarrhea.

Kurt, thank you for the compliments you include in all your posts to me. Many people have complimented me on my research papers and essays in addition to my creative works and prose.

Rather than discussing the benefits of the DREAM Act and keeping it courteous, instead your personally attack me and judge me like no other. I hope you realize that people who are neutral to the DREAM Act read posts such as mine and then compare them to posts such as yours and the differences in tone and humanity are astounding.

Kurt, it's almost as if people like your purposely aim to be irritants. It doesn't bother me in the slightest that you post your vile comments to my story. If anything, it lends more credibility to my argument that I am an asset to this country. Your lack of initiative in finding out more about the VAWA is evident. If you wanted to know more about it, you should have done research on your own time instead of relying on me or Dave to find sources for you. You have all the time in the world to find "faults" in my story; I have classes to attend and excel in. The onus is on you.

To be clear, the purpose of my story was to illuminate to others that there are students like me who aren't living up to their full potential because of events and decisions that they were not part of. The remedy to this tragedy is passage of the DREAM Act. It's a win-win situation for both the US and future beneficiaries.

Lastly Kurt, the fact that you to deride my life and my experiences within it as "shallow" says more about you than it does about me. My mother, my brother, and I qualify for a U-visa on a few grounds. Let me tell you some of the things that I have lived through:

PHYSICAL
* My father whipping my little brother with an electrical cord. He was 5 years old.
* My father refusing to take me to the hospital for a fractured arm. I spent 3 days without treatment. I was 9 years old.
* My father knocking down my mom with my newborn sister in her arms. She was about 6 months old and I was 13.
* My father slamming a car door on my mother's legs. I was 14.
* My father choking my mom long enough to render her unconscious for hours. I was 7 years old.
* My father punching my mom so hard in the face when she tried to leave. He hit her so hard that he actually loosen a few of her teeth. This incident also left her with bruised ribs and her face incredibly swollen. I was an eyewitness to this when was 9 years old.

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL
* My mother, my brother, and I lived in a women's shelter for about a month and a half when we escaped after the aforementioned incident.
* While my mother was pregnant with a different baby sister, he was carrying on an affair with a lady from his job. My mother later gave birth to my baby sister. She was still born.
* My father didn't believe in contraception. After my first baby sister's birth, my mother got pregnant twice. She miscarried both time. My father hit her through out those pregnancies.
* My mother was later diagnosed with lupus. My father didn't care.
* My father had enough money to buy the woman he was having an affair with jewelery, but he never had enough money to help my brother when he wanted to play football with the other kids.
* When I wanted to join the Girl Scouts and again when I wanted to learn how to play the violin, my father tore up my applications because he felt that I would never amount to anything. It was more useful to learn how to be a housewife.

Kurt, I could go on and on. This was my life. I wouldn't wish this on my enemy. Contrary to what you and my father believe, I am worthy enough to call the US my home. I am worthy enough to get an education. I have proved myself over and over again. Kurt, you may think my life is "shallow" and that all I'm doing is taking up space, but I respectfully disagree. I am accomplishing my dreams with or without your approval. If you are not here to help me, then please get out of my way.

Isabel I hope God helps you and to the rest of immigrant students in this country.Like Lil Wayne says in one of his songs "how do you feel, b**ch I feel undefeated"  repeat that everytime to your self wen you feel down.Music works charms wen I feel down and hopeless.

Hello Isabel,

I have a very similar story to yours. I am, considered by the laws and definitions of the U.S., an "illegal" immigrant. I attend to a University in Texas, I am majoring in Business (accounting) and I am also aspiring to make a postitive effect on this country. I really hope that the Dream Act passes so that not only you, but thousands of students get a chance to prove themselves of their capabilities to make this a better country. President Obama supports the Dream Act and as he mentioned will pass it "immediately."

Here is the link to those who have not seen the video when President Obama speaks about the Dream Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GwNVo7siFA&feature=channel_page

P.S. Kurt is a butthurt bastard

Isabel, although you are the age to be my sister or my best friend i see a lot of my mothers characteristics in you and some of mine as well. I too came to the U.S illegally at a young age (1ish) but i was lucky enough that my father worked along César Estrada Chávez and we were able to get our green cards later on in life. 
From what i understand (from past comments) that Kurt has left, it seems his bitterness toward undocumented people is that they have accomplished more then any average students he has encounter, thus it is "unfair" to his eyes to let any of them get any financial aid when maybe his accomplishments don't get him that sort of reward that he has the privilege to apply for. Those sort of people i feel extremely sad and sorry for, because they do not understand what its like to be deprived of the things you desperately need, they only know how to be selfish.
As for the Dream Act, i too hope it passes thru, because even though i could get financial aid my cousin, my best friends, my classmates, all smart, gifted individuals like your self deserve and need it. 
And i for one will fight as long as i can to make it pass.

great post Isabel. You are a hero to the Dreamer community. Thank you for sharing your story.

I am so glad you shared your story. I was happy to read about such a strong willed person faced with such adversity. As a Dreamie, it has brought me great comfort. Thanks!

Thanks for your story ....i feel stronger now .

Isabel;   You are a class act.

Thank you for sharing your story. You honesty have guts to put yourself out there like that.

I was brought here when i was 2 and i still haven't decided whether or not i should apply for a community college or i should wait. I'm 20 and i haven't been to school for almost 2 years and you can say I'm jealous in knowing that either all my friends are currently in school or won't even give it a try.

If the DREAM act passes this will be one more step closer to fullfilling all our dreams!!

Fingers cross for everyone undocumented and as for me as well. :)