It Gets Better…
But does it?
Does it really get better for undocumented immigrant?
See, here’s the thing. When someone struggles in some area of life, very often we can say to them, you are not alone, there are others who are where you are
now, and there are so many who are passed this. There is hope. Look at those who overcame.
Who can the undocumented Americans look at? Who is our hope in this case?
Sure, we are definitely not alone, but is there a future?
Take Jose Antonio Vargas of Define American. He came out to the world that he is an undocumented American. You say so what? It is a big deal. You see, Jose, is a journalist who went on winning a Pulitzer Prize, who met President Obama in the White House and I believe and built so much guilt within him that he decided he must do something.( My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant, Vargas, NY Times)
He could have stayed hidden. And probably not got caught. But he opened up about the topic and it is why so many of us are having this conversation.
So some say he is an example of hope.
But sadly, he is not. He is just like us. Only difference is he was able to make it big with fake papers. Not sure if he is still using it or not, but now he goes around informing people of this topic. Of why it is so important to give us a chance. Who knows how many of us could become Pulitzer Prize winners.
I remember it clearly. When I was offered to get fake i.d.s so that I could drive like my friends, enter places without having to carry a passport, or just feel normal for the most part. Get a bank account. Social. The whole deal (minus global travels).
I said no. Some called me a fool. An idiot. But at that age of 17 I wanted to abide to the law. I said I will get papers the legit way. I wanted to be a true American. So yes, I now have massive limitations, some fear of deportation but I am not standing idle.
I am going to be honest. There were so many times I just wanted to end it. That the hassle wasn’t worth it. That I will never be legal. And perhaps, I wasn’t worthy to live. I felt trapped and often feel alone still today.
Yes, there are so many of me out there but there’s no one to look at. No one to say to us “there is hope”.
I felt in a funk the past few weeks. I have been writing much on this topic. Talking to many lawyers. Writing to politician (if they only really read what we write). Calling their offices. Letters to the White House.
And yet, nothing. I am still undocumented. It eats me up, it gets me down and I had allowed it to take me away from other projects feeling sad.
But here I am, as lonely as I feel, and as lonely many of you feel, there is indeed hope. There is a smile awaiting. “A future.”
Just go to YouTube and type in The Dream Act. Watch how some Senators take our stories to heart. Watch how united so many of us are in this issue. How we believe we can do so much for this country.
Yes, we have no one to look toward to for hope but I say screw that. Look at us. How many of us are volunteering HOURS for non profits. How many of us are leaders in our own way. It funny when you hear the President of the student body is often undocumented. I was and many I know were. It’s funny when they are the one leading departments in their schools or volunteer services in their community.
There is hope.
Yes, look at Jose. Look at how he decided to step up and say, “let’s define american“.
Look at me. I am no one special and yet I am here with you. I volunteer hours at non profits. I help small businesses become more profitable. I use my mind. I know you do to.
I create hope. Jose is creating hope. We are in this together creating hope.
I don’t know when this Dream Act will pass or if ever. But I do know as lonely as it will get out there, it will get better.
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Immigrant of the Year: The DREAMer
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Despite the lack of immigration reform (few seriously expected it to come in an election year), 2012 was far from quiet on the immigration front.
While the issue was not discussed as often as some would like during the presidential campaign, immigration did play a part in the political conversation. The year started out with candidates trying to out-conservative each other in the Republican primaries and ended with voters flatly rejecting Mitt Romney’s proposal of “self-deportation” and fresh promises from the re-elected president to pursue comprehensive immigration reform in 2013.
Outside the rhetoric, both President Obama and the U.S. Supreme Court spoke on the matter, with the former extending deferred action to certain childhood arrivals and the latter striking down the majority of Arizona’s anti-immigrant SB 1070.
Of course, President Obama also oversaw a record number of deportations in 2012.
Regardless of the fears expressed by some, immigrants continued to make valuable contributions to the U.S. in 2012, including the army’s soldier of the year. Immigrants and their children continued to contribute to our sciences, businesses, government & politics, education, athletics and society.
Still, very few risked more than those brought here as children, so called DREAMers.
Countless risked deportation to countries they do not know in order to publicly advocate for the rights of other immigrants as well as their own. They organized regional and national organizations, took to the streets and informed their communities through blogs and social media.
In an election season in which their votes would not be counted, they made sure their voices were heard, turning up at campaign rallies and at campaign offices to make sure they were not ignored.
When President Obama announced the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services would be extending deferred action to some DREAMers, many set up immigration forums and application drives to make sure their communities were informed.
DREAMers were active on the state and local levels as well, standing up to the spread of Alabama and Arizona-style immigration laws in other states, filing lawsuits and influencing state and local policies.
Such actions take guts. They also deserve recognition.
Had many DREAMers not taken the time to stand up for their themselves and their communities, it is doubtful deferred action would have ever come to pass. It is also doubtful comprehensive immigration reform would be such a big priority for both political parties going into 2013. Without such efforts, it is likely that anti-immigrant laws in the same vein as those found in Arizona and Alabama would have spread.
If the promise of immigration reform is achieved this coming year, the DREAMers will be in large part the ones to thank.
Photo courtesy of Justice, Peace, & Integrity of Creation