undocumented student at Brave New Films

Leaving the United States for Higher Education

2008-07-03T12:38:08Z

North Carolina's ban on undocumented students has prompted a Davidson County teenager (going by the name of Esperanza), to return to Mexico in order to pursue higher education.

Many anti-immigrant activists would hail this as a victory for their side--that denying higher education opportunities for undocumented students prompts a "return flight." However, 1) This is a rare case -- most undocumented students graduate high school or get their bachelors degrees only to stay in the shadows of society and

2) Exporting our young talent and K-12 investment such as Esperanza is a brain drain, and net-loss for the United States. In effect, the United States is saying that it does not need educated, well-adjusted and assimilated, English-speaking immigrants.

Update: Camila Hornung and Family Deported

2008-07-20T14:28:19Z

Despite supporters of Camila Hornung and her family holding vigils and sending out letters of support to Florida Governors and Senators to stop their deportation, according to this article, the family boarded a plane back to Peru this afternoon.

A family member who had spoken to Camila's mother said the following:

"She was crying, she just let me know that she was leaving without advice. She's not suppose to speak with us, she had only one minute to speak with us by phone," said the member.

We will update you on this blog if there are any changes to this story.

Action Alert: Save Camilia Hornung from Deportation

2008-07-22T13:28:35Z

This is an action alert from DreamActivist.org

Please, fax/send your letters of support for Camila Hornung to Florida senators Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson, Mayor Manny Diaz, and Governor Charlie Crist. You can also respond to this post with your letters and we’ll make sure to have them forwarded to them.

Here’s their contact information:

Mayor Manuel A. Diaz
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133

Office (305)250-5300
Fax (305)854-4001
Email: mannydiaz@ci.miami.fl.us

Governor Charlie Crist
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
PL-05 The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Fax (850) 487-0801
Email: charlie.crist@myflorida.com

Senator Bill Nelson
Phone: (202) 224-5274
Fax: (202) 228-2183
Email

Senator Mel Martinez
Phone: (202) 224-3041
Fax: (202) 228-5171
E-mail

Here is a sample letter:

DREAMERS Keep Marching On

2008-06-04T18:55:01Z

The DREAM Act may have stalled in the Senate, but that hasn't stopped students from continuing to fight for workable immigration reform. Hundreds of demonstrators, many of them high school and college students, recently marched in support for the DREAM Act in Las Vegas. It is heartening to see that undocumented students and their supporters have not lost hope, and that they are willing to continue doing whatever it takes to keep the DREAM Act in the spotlight.

I've often felt when hearing Senators, Congressmen, and even members of the media speak of the DREAM Act that they forget this isn't just an idea or issue to discuss, but that it deals with the livelihood of real people. I hope through all the politics the Senators and Congressmen do not forget that the future of thousands of students in the United States is in their hands.

Whether it is a sixteen-year-old who realized they can't apply for a driver's license, an eighteen-year-old who can't afford college tuition, or a twenty-two-year-old college graduate who cannot legally work - all these undocumented students' lives have been put on hold. The DREAM Act is about letting us reach our full potential and a chance to give back to this great country.

California Valedictorian Facing Deportation

2008-06-23T16:12:11Z

What are Arthur's options?

If he evades the law and stays, he would not qualify under the DREAM Act as he has a final deportation order. However, he can benefit from AB-540 and attend UC Davis paying only instate-tuition.

At this point in time, Arthur has not triggered any ban from entering the United States since he is under 18. He can choose to deport to Armenia and apply for a student visa. But the chances of an approval would be slim since he would have to demonstrate strong ties to Armenia and no evidence of staying here indefinately. Definitely not a pretty picture.

At this point, a private bill is the best option for Arthur Mkoyan and family.

Watch the video

Another Student to be Deported

2008-06-04T18:16:31Z

Arthur Mkoyan's tale is similar to all the stories of undocumented students that have been featured on this blog. Arthur has lived in the United States since the age of two, he'll be graduating high school as valedictorian in a few weeks, and he plans to attend the University of California at Davis to become a dentist or pharmacist.

Unfortunately, Arthur's dreams and plans in the country he has grown up in are being deferred. If deported, he will be returning to Armenia, a country he has no memory of.

Arthur has contacted Senator Feinstein for help. It is possible that the Senator could introduce a private bill on his behalf, which would halt the deportation proceedings.

Senator Feinstein in a prepared statement said the following:

"Arthur Mkoyan represents another reason why Congress needs to pass the Dream Act. It is in our nation's interest to provide talented students the incentive to take this path toward being responsible and law-abiding members of our society."

Deporting DREAM Act Students

2008-05-26T13:14:51Z

Aspiring and talented artist, Meynardo Garcia (18), who has lived here since he was 10, is facing deportation to Mexico. Newsie and I both blogged about this today so I would like to focus on the impact of his deportation, rather than the story. You can read the entire article here.

Part of a talented Generation 1.5 of students that are nonetheless treated like criminals in this country, it is disheartening to see an honest, talented and hardworking young student like Meynardo Garcia--who is well-liked by many at his school and a pride to his community--to have his dreams cut short by our stringent immigration laws.

Countdown of Excuses - So why don't you drive?

2008-05-09T22:37:11Z

I have had family over from my country of origin this past week, and it has been a nightmare. Besides the fact that we are so 'out-of-touch' and I am certainly not free to 'entertain' people, I really dislike their prying questions. The one I faced this morning really while I was getting ready for work was: "You should learn to drive. Then next time we are here, you can take us around." WHAT? NEXT TIME you are here??? Did you just invite yourself over at my expense? I bit my tongue and just said hurriedly that I don't have the time. What I really meant was that 1. I don't have the time to learn how to drive and 2. even if I did, I would have no time to take anyone sight-seeing.

But the little insight into my morning shows the excuses we have to make in our daily life about minuscle things such as driving a car. And I am someone who identifies as an avid cyclist with too many horror stories of vehicles trying to drive me off the road so any mention of 'driving' makes me angry for not only the fact that I cannot drive or get a license. Having to depend on other family members or your girlfriends to drive you around is so tedious and being the independent type, I take my bicycle everywhere. Besides, it is good for the environment, inexpensive, good exercise and more flexible in traffic. And a car is expensive and requires much more maintenance and fees, not to mention the ever-increasing costs of gasoline.

Are those enough excuses? What excuses do you give?

Meet a DREAMer - "I fear I’ll be another lost statistic"

2008-07-26T04:48:18Z

I had several DREAMers participate in a project a while ago that involved answering questions about themselves, their lives, fears, dreams and hopes as undocumented students.

This interview is with K.B., who is currently in university and fighting deportation to Nigeria and has lived in the United States since she was four years old.

Do you identify as American?

Yes, I consider myself to be 100% American, in every way except by birth. On the same note, there are people who, even though they were born in the United States, do not consider themselves American. We do not choose where we are born, so why be punished for such a mundane matter as location?

Describe your feelings about being ‘undocumented’ in your home country.

This is from one of my blog posts: “This battle is not simply over just a piece of paper, but the things that piece of paper represents. You see, without that piece of paper, living life is simply hard to do. You are suddenly not 100% human, as if humanity is something that can be rationed. Suddenly, your voice is harder to hear, as if expression is something to be looked down on. Your face is ripped of its defining features, as if your identity is something to be erased and forgotten. Slowly but surely, faced with rejection day by day, pieces of your being are torn away, until nothing is left but your body, now an empty shell. Tell me how do you love when love has been denied to you? How do you live when your fate rests in someone else's hands? How do you laugh when your voice has been silenced? How do you hope when your future seems bleak at best? How do you jump, shout, play, or dance? How do you be when your very being is on trial?”

DREAM Act Student Wins Deferment

2008-04-07T22:47:14Z

Many of us may remember and look up to Marie Gonzalez from her testimony on behalf of thousands of DREAM Act students last year. Well, the good news is that according to The Examiner, she has been granted another deferment from deportation as of today for another year till she can finish her studies at Westminster College in Fulton. But this is her third extension and time is running out for students like Marie. We must get ready for another uphill battle to get DREAM before Congress early next year.

Gay Iranian Seeks Asylum

2008-06-30T08:13:42Z

I was livid when I heard that Mehdi Kazemi, a gay teenager from Iran was being denied political asylum in the UK and then by a Dutch Court even after he could prove substantial risk to his life.

"I wish to inform secretary of state that I did not come to the UK to claim asylum … But in the past few months my situation back home has changed. The Iranian authorities have found out that I am a homosexual and they are looking for me."

He continued, "I can not stop my attraction to men … If I return to Iran I will be arrested and executed like [my boyfriend]. Since this incident … I have been so scared."

Finally, today, Britain halted the move to deport the teenager and granted temporary reprieve. For now, we can all sigh in relief that the international public outcry against the folly of deporting the gay teenager to Iran has halted the order. However, I couldn't help thinking of another gay Iranian friend of mine who is in the United States, and like me, also 'out-of-status' and awaiting his DREAMs to come to life.

Earning the Right to American Citizenship?

2008-03-13T09:36:26Z

Most people seem supportive of the concept of ‘earned citizenship' - meaning that we must fulfill a set amount of requirements to obtain a green card and an American passport.

The DREAM Act has several teleological components that we must meet in order to qualify for legal residence. These are:

we must have come here before we were 16 and are under 30,
we must have lived here continuously for five years,
we must graduate from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED
we must have good moral character with no criminal record and
we must attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years.

Only if we meet all stipulations, do we get legal residency. And even then, processing citizenship would take anywhere from 3-5 years or more.

Do you think these stipulations are fair or restrictive? Should we be made to do more in order to prove our love and loyalty to this country and that we belong here and contribute to American society?

To become an U.S. Citizen, immigrants have to sit a ‘citizenship test,' a test that I have seen many fellow American students fail in class. Should their birthright citizenship be taken away from them?

What about DREAMers that do not necessarily identify as American and do not believe in ‘loyalty' to the nation? In an ever globalizing world of McDonalds, international holidays, languages, Facebook/Myspace, the bond of nationality is eroding. And I do not see that as a tragedy.

Today, we self-identify in so many ways-I am a homosexual, a woman, a student, an Indian, a tech-geek, a daughter, an atheist, a civil rights activist, an aspiring lawyer, and so much more than an undocumented immigrant or ‘illegal alien.' If society can accept so many identities without placing teleological components to citizenship, why are the undocumented and documented migrants put to the test? After all, we do not need to be alike in order to co-exist.

What do you think about the concept of earned citizenship?

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (and don't be afraid)

2008-06-07T09:34:39Z

No, this post is not about the United States military's homophobic silencing of gays and lesbians in the armed forces. It pertains to the policy adopted by colleges and universities around the country that have to deal with undocumented students.

Undocumented high school students, upon graduation, are faced with limited options for higher education unless they can afford outrageous out-of-state tuition and apply to colleges that allow undocumented students. While some fellow DREAMers confirm that it is virtually impossible for them to attend college in their respective states (i.e. Florida), admission officials from several colleges have stated that they do NOT serve a police function.

By this, I mean that when you apply to higher education institutions as an undocumented student (and I can vouch for community colleges, state and UC schools in California), you are promised confidentiality and the college does not bother to alert DHS or ICE about your status. Seriously, their role is to educate (and take money from you), not serve a policing function. In a recent news article, assistant director of admissions at Boise State University has stated that "We take all students at their word. That they are providing us with the truth. For admission, a student would not be caught. We don't research. We don't ask for documentation and such." Just take a look at this powerpoint slide developed at the 2007 Counselor Conference of the University of California university system called "Assisting Undocumented Students in Higher Education."

It is best to call and ask schools about their policies regarding undocumented students. On application forms, I have noticed a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" procedure - Do not offer yourself up as an undocumented student unless the school contacts you about your status, mostly to ascertain residency for tuition purposes. Fill out the required residency forms with complete honesty. Unlike the military, you will not be banned from higher education for being "out."

Watch the video

Notes from Underground 1.5 – In the Closet

2008-02-26T15:50:28Z

"It's about time you moved out. You can't stay with the ‘rents forever."

I stared silently at my friend across the table; she was unaware of my undocumented status.

"What? You are 22 and still live with your mother! And you commute 2 hours to get to school and are up till early morning working. That's crazy! No wonder you don't have a social life."

I could make some excuses without giving myself away. "Well, my mom isn't very healthy and needs my help with her business. I cannot just pack up and leave."

"Oh c'mon, you will have your MA in a matter of months and can get a well-paying job to support her if she needs. That's another problem, you don't even work. When are you going to learn to take care of your own shit?!"

I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat. The conversation was not going as I had expected. I had confided in her about my frustration about the long commute hours, working till wee hours of the morning in the family business and not having any time for a social life, and here she was making me out into some sort of irresponsible, dependent slacker.

"I don't have time for a job right now, and furthermore, I don't need one. The family business pays enough," I replied.

She was unrelenting. "Listen, the only way to resolve your problems is to get a job, move out. I will help you look for a place and even move. But you have to take the first step, grow up and become independent."

I nodded. It was best to drop the subject. I was in the closet at home about being gay and in the closet outside the home about being undocumented, and it was suffocating me to the point where I could not speak to either parties involved.

In conversations with other Dreamers, I have noticed similar feelings of loneliness, the desire for space and independence, fear of coming out to classmates and colleagues even while appearing like an irresponsible dependent who needs to grow up. I have heard the guys talking about feeling emasculated and foolish when their girlfriends drive them around. I personally refuse to forge any intimate relationships due to my undocumented status: why make an already troublesome situation (the limited legal recognition of a same-sex relationship) even more complicated by adding the ‘illegal' bi-national factor?

We do not owe anyone explanations for our life choices, but how do we begin to fit-in when our ability to move ahead in life is so drastically limited? For now, I stay in the closet and come out online to converse with fellow Dreamers to whom I do not have to explain any life choices. In the meantime, I continue to dream of the day that we can fully become our true beings and come out of the closet, living life the way we want to.

Notes from Underground 1.3 – Hiding from Law Enforcement

2008-02-26T15:50:33Z

I fear law enforcement officials even though I have never committed a crime, violent or non-violent.

My first encounter with a cop occurred at the high school principal's office when I was 16. He was there to investigate a report of child abuse that a teacher had filed on my behalf without my knowledge when I had confided in her about my father's violent outbursts related to my sexual orientation. I was a deer stuck in the headlights, scared because I felt the need to protect my family even while keep myself in an awful situation. Thus, I kept quiet and denied all allegations. From that point on, my guilt and fear got the better of me and I decided to do my best and avoid all possible situations that could put me in any interaction with law enforcement, no matter how much it endangered me.

The years passed and nothing serious occurred until the driver of a vehicle decided to smash into me while I was crossing an intersection on my bicycle. Injured with a damaged bicycle, all I could think about was getting away from the scene of the accident before a crowd gathered and any cops arrived. Not heeding the words of the driver or exchanging any contact information, I scrambled away from the site as fast as my body would let me.

Looking back, I had once again acted irrationally out of fear. I was angry at myself for not being more careful even though the accident was not my fault. I was angrier because my status as an undocumented student subconsciously made me act like I had done something wrong and needed to escape punishment.

How can I protect myself when my mere existence here is questionable to authorities that should otherwise make me feel secure? How do I assert and sustain my human rights without jeopardizing the safety and comfort of my family and me? I eventually settled the questions with a philosophical drivel-security is an ontolologically unstable concept in as much as we are never really "secure." Living underground, I am secure because I no longer demand security.