DREAM Act
Guest Post Stint
Published July 18, 2009 @ 01:33PM PT
Dave is away on vacation for a week and hence, you would have to bear with my blog posts at least twice a day.
In short, my name is Prerna Lal, I am a queer undocumented student, one of the founders of DreamActivist.org and I work for the passage of the DREAM Act, among other things.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where we are just starting the Students for Fair Consideration--a program that will train more than a dozen immigrant students in advocacy, organizing and more.
You can read my Change.org immigration story and my coming out story for more about me.
My Name is Carol and I am Undocumented
Published July 17, 2009 @ 07:46PM PT
This week's guest Dream Act guest post is written by Carol, an undocumented student who is lobbying her Congressional members for passage of the DREAM Act. Visit Dreamactivist.org to find out how you can help pass the Dream Act.
I came to this country when I was six years old and have been in this country ever since. My parents brought me to this country to have a better future and life. Unfortunately, life in Mexico during the early 1990's like today, was full of poverty and corruption. Therefore, my parents opted to risk my life as well as theirs, to come to this unknown land, the one described by many as the land of opportunities, the land where dreams come true, the land of the United States of America.
At the tender age of six I comprehended everything that was surrounding my life. I clearly remember the traumatic and life-threatening experience I had when my parents and I crossed the border. After that experience I have been motivated to do everything in my power to excel and make my parents proud of me. I dedicated myself to my studies and excelled academically at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Due to my academic and community service achievements as well as school activities I was the first person in my family to attend a prestigious university, Rutgers University, and qualify for many scholarships. However, like you must already know, I was unable to receive financial assistance and therefore qualify for any scholarships due to my illegal status.
My dream since a young girl had been to become a teacher. I have done everything in my power to fulfill that dream. And even though this minor obstacle was put in front of me, I still kept on with my dream and continued with my plans to attend college. I had to get two jobs in order to have enough money to pay for my tuition. I struggled many days and sleepless nights working extra shifts at my job to have sufficient money to pay for my school.
After a lot of obstacles and struggles and most importantly with God's help I graduated college. Part of my dream was fulfilled. This past May I graduated college and became once again, the first person in my family to obtain a college degree. I was extremely content with my achievements, however, once again my reality smacked me right across the face and almost knocked me down. Right after my graduation, I was accepted into a prestigious Alternate Route Teaching Program for New York City. It was an alternate route teaching program that enables candidates to obtain a teaching license and a Master's degree. I was accepted into the program and was about to start the orientation when I was informed to bring my documents to verify my legal status. When I informed the representatives of my situation, I was informed that I was unable to continue with the program and that my application and admittance had to be revoked.
I was devastated because my dream was shattered into little pieces. I tried my best to find a loop hole; I talked to anyone that I could. I even talked to the chancellor of New York City's public schools but all was in vain. There was nothing that could have been done. Due to the fact that I am an illegal immigrant I have no opportunity to fulfill my dream and help those who truly need the most help of all, the children. Although this has been a major obstacle in my life that has prevented me to work and establish myself as a professional, I decided to keep studying. Currently, I am enrolled in a community college pursuing a nursing career. I pray to God that once I am done with this field of study and new career the Dream Act will be a law and therefore I will be allowed to work and fulfill my dream.
I'm a U.S. Citizen and my Wife Was Deported
Published July 10, 2009 @ 07:42PM PT
This week's guest Dream Act guest post is written by Brian, a U.S. citizen, and his mother, Debra. Visit Dreamactivist.org to find out how you can help pass the Dream Act.
Brian:
I want to tell the story of my wife, through the eyes of my mother. My wife would have been someone who would have been the ideal Dream Act beneficiary. Instead we were harshly deported. My mother's story, below, is a very heartfelt outline of what has happened to us.
Debra:
As I write, my daughter-in-law, Anya is on a plane, headed to the Ukraine, with my only grandchild in her womb. It is difficult to see the words on my computer screen, through the tears that are falling uncontrollably. These tears began a little over two months ago when I first heard that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had issued a final order of deportation for Anya. After appealing to the court for several years to obtain legal status, all of her requests had been denied and she had no further legal options. Now she must leave and is banned from re-entering the U.S. for 10 years.
I cry because Anya is being treated so unfairly. At the age of 13, Anya came to the U.S. ten years ago with her mother. Her mother overstayed her visa. As a young child, Anya was unaware of the fact that she was not following Immigration laws, and would have been incapable of leaving on her own even if she had been aware and understood the laws. So now she is being severely and cruelly punished for actions that were beyond her control.
I cry because this is creating such an emotional and financial hardship for this young couple. My son Brian married Anya in December of 2007. They were excited to learn in January of this year that they will be having a baby (a girl!) in September. At what should be such a joyous time, they are having to deal with leaving behind all their family, friends, jobs, and everything that they have worked so hard for in their lives. This is a very frightening experience because they are being forced to go to a country that neither of them know. Brian cannot speak the language and it will be highly improbable that he can find employment there.
I cry because I am scared for their well being. They will lose their medical insurance, which is much needed not only for the delivery of the baby, but also to cover the enormous medical bills that Brian incurs because of a severe case of Crohn's disease. He needs surgery in the very near future. The U.S. embassy recommends that anyone with health problems not travel to the Ukraine, because of the poor medical facilities. They advise purchasing evacuation insurance in case of needing medical care. Because Anya does not have a passport, traveling to another country to help insure the safe delivery of the baby would not be an option. It is for this reason that she has returned to the Ukraine three months before her deadline. She is hoping that she can get her Ukrainian passport and get to a country that has good medical care before the baby is due.
I cry because this whole situation makes no sense. Anya has done nothing wrong. She was an honor student throughout high school and college. She worked hard to pay her own way through college and received a degree in interior design. Her talent enabled her to quickly secure a job. She paid taxes on her income. She never did anything illegal - not even a parking ticket. The only reason ICE had to deport her was the fact that her mother overstayed her visa. She was hurting no one and contributing greatly to society. Her deportation is devastating to a great many people left behind.
Grassroots Effort Halts Walter Lara's Deportation
Published July 02, 2009 @ 07:50PM PT
From America's Voice comes great news today:
[A]fter a strong coordinated effort this week, led by Dream Activist.org and SEIU, to allow Walter Lara to stay in this country, we've scored an important victory. Walter was granted a one-year stay of deportation today. The 23-year-old honor student will now get to spend this Fourth of July watching fireworks with his family in Florida instead of waiting to be deported to a country he's never known. Congratulations to everyone who worked to make this happen!
This was a effort initiated on the ground by local student organizers coordinating with the national Dream Graduation Day, then propelled through new media strategies by Dreamactivist.org and the SEIU. There have been stories of other Dreamers that hit the mainstream, but none so forcefully, enlisting allies like Kos and Senator Bill Nelson. This is not because Walter's story is unique--unfortunately, Walter's legal situation is all too common among ambitious undocumented youth. But today's result gives me hope in a time when hope is in short supply. Hope that the balance is tipping in favor of compassion and common sense.
Walter graciously thanked DHS Secretary Napolitano for exercising discretion to defer an action that made no sense to anyone--the deportation of an honor student who came to the U.S. at the age of three. He also looks forward, calling for Congress to remember the others who could benefit from the DREAM Act:
But even as the dust settles on this tremendous personal victory, my sights are clearly set on the struggle ahead to build a long-term future for me and the more than 2 million like me whose lives may be cut short and dreams deferred.
The action taken by the leaders in Congress and the Department of Homeland Security is an acknowledgment that our immigration laws are broken. The DREAM Act, if passed, would help people like myself, who came here through no fault of their own, stay in this country, be put on a path to citizenship and contribute to our nation.
Congratulations, Walter, and thanks to all who worked to make this day possible!
Stop the Deportation of Walter Lara!
Published July 01, 2009 @ 07:22PM PT
They write letters:
Walter Lara is a 23 year-old honor student facing deportation on July 6, 2009. Walter’s family immigrated from Argentina when he was three years old. He has only known life as an American, and proudly declares that “the United States is my home.”
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson wrote the Department of Homeland Security on Walter's behalf, requesting that they defer action on Walter's deportation because "he has earned the chance to live and work here and call America home."
Sign onto Sen. Nelson's letter and on Thursday, July 2, 2009, we will deliver Sen. Nelson's letter with your co-signature to the Department of Homeland Security.
That's tomorrow! And July 6 is this Monday. Walter is running out of time. Sign the letter here.
As usual, the readers/Dreamers at change.org are 8 steps ahead of me, already having put up an action here over a week ago.
Join Walter's Facebook support group.
Recommend Gabacha's diary at DailyKos.
Read Senator Nelson's letter to DHS below the fold. My question for Senator Nelson: Your support thus far is appreciated more than you know, but where is your private bill for Walter Lara?
My Name Is Belle and I am Undocumented
Published June 27, 2009 @ 08:22AM PT
This week's guest Dreamer is Belle. Visit Dreamactivist.org to find out how you can help pass the DREAM Act.
My name is Belle, and I live in Florida. I first came to the United States from Brazil at the age fourteen, in 2004. I was brought here unwillingly by my mother, whom I always had issues with and who always beat me and abused me as a kid. My sister (nine years older than me) was already living here for the previous five years, and after an almost-successful attempted suicide on my part when I was 13, she convinced my mother to let me come and stay with her.
Of course as a fourteen year old I knew nothing of documents or legal status or anything of the sort, so I was brought here and here I stayed, without even realizing my given time in the country had expired and I was then considered an undocumented student. Since I moved away from my mother's house, I have considerably improved, and the suicidal thoughts rarely ever came back. Now, five years have passed and they are gone. I realized that the abuse I went through as a child messed with my emotions and kept me from reaching my full potential as a person, and coming to the United States has helped me slowly free myself and become my own person, like I would not have been able to do if I had stayed in Brazil.
After living my entire teenage years in this country, I know no other home, and there's no way I can NOT consider myself an American. I have adapted to the culture and have successfully learned the language and sometimes can speak it even better than natives.
I have always been an intelligent and successful student, school was never hard for me, and I recently graduated High School with honors. My DREAM has always been to be able to go to college and major in psychology, so I can help kids who are what I once was and give them something I never had the opportunity to have, which is the support and the knowledge they are not alone in the world, and yes, there is a chance, and yes, their lives can be better, and that suicide is not the last resort.
On the side, I'm completely infatuated with acting and learning more about human emotion and the intricate parts of our brains. I also hope to take more Acting classes on the side when I go to college and become a performer.
Unfortunately I have not been able to pursue those dreams as of yet, thanks to my legal status in the country, I am unable to drive, to work, or to enroll in college like I've always dreamed of.
DREAM Graduation Makes a Splash
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]
