Waiting for Change

Published October 29, 2009 @ 10:33AM PT

It takes over a decade to pass a good bill. Last week, Senator Durbin promised to fight for the DREAM Act till he 'draws his last breath' at an immigration forum at DePaul University while also telling immigrant youth to wait in the same breath. It's the same promise deferred year after year. The DREAM Act was introduced back in 2001 when I still had legal status in this country and almost every year after that. In 2007, undocumented youth were told to wait till 2009. Now, they are being told to wait till 2010. When the election year swings around faster than anyone expected, thousands of dreams may just be deferred till 2011.

The White House promised to look into the possibility of deferring deportation for undocumented youth this past August but DHS still refuses to defer the deportation of DREAM Act students like Jorge Alonso Chehade, and Herta Llusho. USCIS has the power to exercise discretion in immigration cases but it is more concerned about deporting people than doing justice. Next week, Gilbert Mejia might be left in limbo in the United States while his family is deported back to Guatemala along with his U.S. citizen siblings.

The person who is waiting for something to turn up might start with their shirt sleeves.
- Garth Henrichs

'Waiting it out' is not an option. Expecting politicians to do the right thing on immigration without nudging them is never an option. President Obama could chose to defer the deportation of thousands today with just an executive order, place a moratorium on raids and suspend misguided programs that give local cops power to act like immigration officials. But he refuses to budge and pays lip service to the large immigrant community in the United States.

In the face of Executive and Congressional inaction, we have to take action. Today, supporters of the Mejia family are holding a vigil outside Dianna Feinstein's San Francisco office in hopes that she would introduce a private bill to keep the family in the United States. Perhaps no one represents the spirit and character of a fighter better than Jorge Alonso who recently established a site dedicated to his dream of staying in the United States in order to keep his campaign alive. He is not waiting for deportation. Neither should the thousands upon thousands who currently live in the shadows of society.

Video Credit: ProgressIllinois

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Comments (9)

No sense waiting. It ain't going to happen. Americans have soured on high immigration rates.

Posted by Kurt Thialfad on 10/29/2009 @ 10:38AM PT
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Doubtful given all latest polls indicate 2/3 support for immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.

Posted by Prerna Lal on 11/02/2009 @ 03:29PM PT
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Prerna, had an interesting call today from a Hispanic woman who read my ballot statement (550 words on back of sample ballot), was confused at first and eventually realized I was for amnesty.

She wondered why I hadn't contacted Hispanic organizations and asked for help? It was a combination of pain and humor that I told her how hard I've tried. She's voting for me tomorrow for goober-nor, and going to try and tell a few others. I wish I could get help here and elsewhere because I'm thinking of changing parties to Democrat and going for the Dem. nomination to take on my congressman next year. Never raising one dime which might be the smart way to take on a guy that raises millions. A dyed in the wool Republican changing parties, taking on the 9 term incumbent, running as the real Joe the Plumber. One more trip to Mexico and I might be able to pull this off. I'll get the press, I know some things now. how can you explain in one short thread?

Posted by Gary Stein on 11/02/2009 @ 04:25PM PT
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The DREAM Act died in April after its supporters used violence and intimidation to shut down Tom Tancredo from speaking at UNC.

Posted by elliot Foley III on 10/29/2009 @ 01:32PM PT
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Another false statement given what actually happened:

http://promigrant.org/diary/653/student-activists-shutdown-tancredos-nativism

Violence begets violence.

The issue has long since blown over and Tom Tancredo is a nobody.

Posted by Prerna Lal on 11/02/2009 @ 03:32PM PT
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The WSJ had an article today about the lower demand for H1-B visas due to the slumping economy. Why would an employer be permitted to bring in a foreign workers when so many Americans are out of work?

Posted by Kurt Thialfad on 10/29/2009 @ 02:50PM PT
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Kurt, I hear you loud and clear, but you and I need to get on the same page.

Your still pointing the finger in the wrong direction. We can't blame people for wanting what we want; that's silly. You need to look a little farther up. This is our Governments fault. Until we take down the wealth that is buying our political leaders, we'll be in the same spot.

(Don't get all crazy, and jump on the "Tea-Baggers bandwagon.) They fight for the rich, although I don't understand why. They believe that trickle-down economics, work. Yea, it did at one time. Until the,"down," of the,"trickle," headed overseas.

So maybe, you can help attack, "Government Policy," with me. We are all pissed-off and tired; so let's blame the "biggest threat," first.

(What do you say?)

Posted by L.S. hope on 10/29/2009 @ 09:50PM PT
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Prerna,

Hi there. Too tired to read any of the blogs you've written lately. Will try and go back after next week.

Posted by Gary Stein on 10/29/2009 @ 06:58PM PT
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Prerna,

How Can I Help You!!!!! I am willing to help in any way i can!

I have called my congressmen, sent letters, what else can i do. I have sent invites to all my friends. I was thinking of trying to get some news organizations involved, or Hispanic Organizations. Even MTV maybe for a "real life" episode on my situation.

Posted by Daniel Callison on 11/03/2009 @ 10:34AM PT
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Author

Prerna obtained her Masters degree in International Relations in 2007 and took a hiatus from academia. During this break, she co-founded DreamActivist.org and helped launch a program for immigrant youth in the Bay Area (S4FC). Currently, she is also a Managing Editor at The Sanctuary. Views expressed on this blog are her own and not that of any organization currently affiliated with her. Contact email - prerna@change.org