Vargas Story Built on Foundation of DREAMs

Earlier this week, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas announced to the world that he is an undocumented immigrant.

The full article is worth a read as it tells his story in a way that captures the complexity of the brokenness of the immigration system. It’s honest in describing his struggle to understand why identity is so tied to citizenship by mainstream thinking (it shouldn’t be) as well as the help he’s received from mentors to maintain his secret. Vargas then channels all of it to pushing the political debate to a more sane and just conversation.

But I am still an undocumented immigrant. And that means living a different kind of reality. It means going about my day in fear of being found out. It means rarely trusting people, even those closest to me, with who I really am. It means keeping my family photos in a shoebox rather than displaying them on shelves in my home, so friends don’t ask about them. It means reluctantly, even painfully, doing things I know are wrong and unlawful. And it has meant relying on a sort of 21st-century underground railroad of supporters, people who took an interest in my future and took risks for me.

Last year I read about four students who walked from Miami to Washington to lobby for the Dream Act, a nearly decade-old immigration bill that would provide a path to legal permanent residency for young people who have been educated in this country. At the risk of deportation — the Obama administration has deported almost 800,000 people in the last two years — they are speaking out. Their courage has inspired me.

NYTimes.com

The students mentioned were the walkers involved with the Trail of Dreams project: Felipe Matos, Gaby Pacheco, Carlos Roa and Juan Rodriguez. They, along with countless other DREAMers across the country, have spent the past few years dragging the political establishment kicking and screaming toward justice for migrant youth through passage of the D.R.E.A.M. Act, which stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors.

Watching and supporting the DREAMers in action has been a personal education for me as a migrant/human rights advocate because it has taught me the humbling lesson of privilege that I possess as a U.S.-born citizen.

When I started blogging in early 2005, there was little information (at least at the sites that I visited), with respect to the militarization of the U.S./Mexico border region and the racial profiling of Latinos. I felt an obligation to share my experience as a mestizo who always conveniently got extra attention from law enforcement; plus it also allowed me to celebrate my indigenous culture that was & is under assault by a 21st Century Conquistador Mentality.

Last summer, the DREAMactivists began organizing a series of civil disobedience acts to raise the political stakes on lawmakers who deserved the heat. Senator McCain, who has betrayed his former colleague and friend Senator Kennedy with lunacy, had his office taken over with a sit-in. I attended the vigil outside of the Pima County Jail on the night of the students’ arrest but was able to drive four minutes back to my comfortable home and life after it was over.

The DREAMers don’t have that luxury; nor can they afford to wait for the political establishment to grudgingly toss them crumbs of justice.

National migrant advocacy groups and allied lawmakers have resisted the leadership that the students have provided. Rep. Luis Gutierrez called their tactics a waste of time as recently as last November, yet he is seen as their biggest advocate in the House. On the Senate side, Majority Leader Harry Reid was pressured at Netroots Nation in 2010 by the scariest sight to any lawmaker afraid of a mustard seed-worth of political courage: students in cap and gowns.

In the words of Matias Ramos, one of the silent protestors:

Yahaira, Lizbeth, Prerna and I understand the political gridlock that causes not only the DREAM Act, but most legislative proposals to be stuck in the current Congress. We have seen the obstructionism to all parts of the agenda, and felt the heightened rhetoric against immigrants seep into the national conversation. But regardless of all these things, we wanted our silent presence to let Reid know that we expect more from him at a time when the story of undocumented immigrants is so often distorted.

The DREAM Act failed to pass in the lame duck session of Congress last winter despite the efforts of Senator Reid to push it through. The President called it his “biggest disappointment” of the session; but for the DREAMers and their now most prominent face, Jose Antonio Vargas, a question remains:

Why the delay in relief while deportations increase?

Until that’s answered and resolved, migrant communities and their allies are right to call out lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation. This about their lives & livelihood and it’s time for the Beltway to listen to their stories and ponder what it means to be American.

 

Urgent: Trail of Dreams Donations Needed

Since January 1st, 2010, four students have been walking from Miami, FL to Washington, DC in an effort to demand action from Congress on the DREAM Act. The Trail of Dreams website has their route and links to blog posts from various stops along the way.

This week, they are hosting several events & rallies as they arrive in DC. They hit a major snag today, though – some loser broke into the accompanying RV and stole several items. You can help the DreamWalkers by donating at this link:

www.trail2010.org/donate

To give you an idea of the strength & determination of these courageous students, here’s a response on Twitter to the theft:

They took all of our computers…they took our trail credit card…but they didn’t take our spirits. #todreams

Please donate and beyond that:

• ask your Congressional representatives to co-sponsor the DREAM Act.
• Follow the Trail of Dreams on Facebook and Twitter

 

Russell Pearce’s Next Target: Migrant Youth

Russell Pearce, the Arizona State Senator who authored SB1070, is no-where-near finished with his attempts to “take back his country state by state” from the “invaders“. He has another bill pending in the state legislature that would go even further to cause fear and panic in Latino and migrant communities – by pitting schools against the families they serve.

Senate Bill 1097 would create the following mandates on the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and school districts:

1. Requires ADE to collect data on students enrolled in Arizona school districts who cannot demonstrate proof of legal U.S. residence.

2. Requires ADE to annually submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate and a furnish a copy to the Secretary of State which includes:

a) summary of the collected data on a district by district basis;

b) research on the adverse impact of the enrollment of students unable to show proof of legal residence;

c) total estimated total cost to Arizona taxpayers for their education; and

d) the total estimated cost to Arizona taxpayers for the education of students who are not U.S. citizens.

3. Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to withhold a school district’s state aid apportionment for non-compliance with the requirements related to data collection for students who cannot demonstrate proof of legal U.S. residence.

AZleg.gov

Got that? This is the next step in Operation Wetback 2010. Pearce’s goal is to make the environment in Arizona so toxic for migrant families that they flee. He has stated this outright:

“My personal background in law enforcement has given me a unique and in-touch perspective with the needs and hazards experienced by rank-and-file police officers and the threats to our citizens. Closing our borders is a must; however it must be coupled with interior enforcement. Attrition by enforcement. I cannot stand by and be a spectator to the death, maiming or damage to another police officer, citizen or taxpayer by an illegal alien because we refuse to enforce our laws and fail to put America and Americans First.”

Phoenix Business Journal (emphasis mine)

As I wrote in a previous post, don’t let these conservative pharisees fool you: they love to complain about overcrowded schools and blame “illegals” but they won’t do anything constructive to make sure our school systems are fully funded in the first place. They don’t believe in government, period.

While the outrage being poured out nationally in response to SB1070 is a good (and much-needed) thing, it’s also defense. We have to be proactive and fight these un-American initiatives before they are signed into law by nativist Governors. Please speak out against SB 1097 – our schools should remain safe institutions of learning, not another venue that provides opportunity for an ICE raid.

• Contact your state legislators
• Contact Governor Brewer and ask for her veto if it passes the leg
• Alert the media as to why this is a harmful step for Arizona
• Educate your family & friends on Russell Pearce’s Operation Wetback 2010
• Vote against any candidates listed as members of the Arizona Republican Party

 

Prerna talking DREAM Act at NYTimes Online

From my post at The Sanctuary

Join the discussion at the New York Times’ Room for Debate blog with The Sanctuary’s Associate Editor Prerna. There are five featured web-panelists, and as you’ll note, some of them have no problem with mass-deportation and racial profiling.

Prerna’s bio is powerful because it allows the voice of someone directly affected by political foot-dragging to speak out. This perspective gives the human dimension center-stage to a discussion that is often conducted by either the brain that discounts the familial and cultural toll of inaction, or the rectum that brings tons of defiling b.s. that keeps forward movement at bay.

Link to NYTimes.com discussion

 

Seattle Times Gives Hate Group A Megaphone

The state legislature in Washington has a proposal before it to expand the opportunity for higher education to undocumented students. Ahead of the national curve, a form of the D.R.E.A.M. Act was advanced in the state a few years ago, qualifying some for in-state tuition. The new plan would extend eligibility to financial aid programs. All good things – we should want to educate as many people in our midst regardless of which piece of earth they happened to be born upon.

In its coverage today of the new proposal, however, The Seattle Times allowed the spokesperson for the hate group FAIR to give a rebuttal.

But those concerned about the impact of illegal immigration in this country say it’s also not fair to ask families struggling to educate their own children to subsidize the education of those whose parents broke the law in bringing them here.

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, asked: “What about that kid you’ll never hear about, who also worked hard, who has dreams and aspirations … a kid who may not be able to go to college because the money is going to someone here illegally?

“I guess the Legislature and governor can’t find enough ways to spend all the surplus money they have.”

The Seattle Times

The staff writers at The Seattle Times are just one of the many hydra heads that give these extremist groups a megaphone to share their rancid form of nativism. Those of us who follow media coverage of the immigration debate know the names Ira Mehlman and FAIR well, but it should be repeated each and every time their viewpoints are masqueraded as credible that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated their operations as proponets of hate:

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is almost certainly the most-quoted immigration restriction organization in America. In just the last few weeks, its leaders have enlightened cable viewers with their views on such topics as “American ‘Intifada’ in Our Future?” “Driving While Illegal,” “Should ALL Illegal Aliens Be Deported?” and “Economic Impact of Migration.” In the past six years, FAIR officials have testified at least 30 times to Congress. Day in and day out, FAIR is taken seriously as a mainstream commentator on the immigration debate.

The founder, chief ideologue and long-time funder of FAIR is a racist. Key staff members have ties to white supremacist groups, some are members, and some have spoken at hate group functions. FAIR has accepted more than $1 million from a racist foundation devoted to studies of race and IQ, and to eugenics – the pseudo-science of breeding a better human race that was utterly discredited by the Nazi euthanasia program. It spreads racist conspiracy theories. Its political ads have caused numerous politicians, Democratic and Republican, to denounce it.

Southern Poverty Law Center

The topic of immigration reform is highly complicated because the status of undocumented workers differs from person-to-person. We, the People, deserve an assessment and plan to move forward that involves grown-ups who are capable of understanding nuance. It would also help that they have a functioning human heart that recognizes the importance of family unity and basic human rights.

Ira Mehlman and FAIR do not meet this criteria. They do not behave as adults in the conversation; rather, they are tantrum throwers that deserve to be sent to their room to think over their unacceptable behavior.

Are you listening, Seattle Times? Stop allowing hate to be broadcast through your pages.

Crossposted from The Sanctuary

 

Support the DREAM Act at Change.org

The second round of voting has begun at Change.org for the top ten ideas for change that will be presented on January 16th in Washington D.C. at a joint event with the National Press Club.

What is Ideas for Change in America?

Ideas for Change in America is a citizen-driven project that aims to identify and create momentum around the best ideas for how the Obama Administration and 111th Congress can turn the broad call for “change” across the country into specific policies.

The project was created in the wake of the 2008 Presidential Election in response to President-elect Barack Obama’s call for increased civic participation in America. It is not connected to the Obama campaign or the administration.

Promigrant/pro-human rights activists were able to mobilize in great numbers to vault the DREAM Act to this next round, but we need your help to make sure it gets to the final list. Here is an excerpt of the submission:

Pass the DREAM Act – Support Higher Education for All Students

The problem: Many American students graduate from college and high school each year, and face a roadblock to their dreams: they can’t drive, can’t work legally, can’t further their education, and can’t pay taxes to contribute to the economy just because they were brought to this country illegally by their parents or lost legal status along the way. It is a classic case of lost potential and broken dreams, and the permanent underclass of youth it creates is detrimental to our economy. Former Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch has said: “In short, although these children have built their lives here, they have no possibility of achieving and living the American dream. What a tremendous loss for them, and what a tremendous loss to our society.”

The solution: The federal DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), is a bipartisan legislation that would permit these students conditional legal status and eventual citizenship granted that they meet ALL the following requirements:

• if they were brought to the United States before they turned 16, are below the age of 30,
• have lived here continuously for five years,
• graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED
• have good moral character with no criminal record and
• attend college or enlist in the military.

Read the full entry and vote here

 

Valedictorian Faces Deportation

When Arthur Mkoyan was two years old, his family fled Armenia to escape the climate of Soviet Union rule. They’ve been working since 1992 to claim asylum in the United States while their son has excelled in the classroom. This week, the Fresno-area high school senior with a 4.0 GPA should be focusing on final exams and his Valedictorian speech to his fellow graduates; instead, he and his mother are facing deportation while the father sits in a migrant worker concentration camp in Arizona.

He and his mother, who did not want to be identified for fear of losing her job and income she needs, were given an extension to June 20 so Arthur could join his class at the ceremony, said Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Our goal is to enforce these court orders for deportations,” Kice said. But “if they come to us and they fully intend to respect the court order, we will work with them.”

Mark Silverman, director of immigration policy at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, said Arthur Mkoyan’s case illustrates why Congress should have passed the Dream Act. The act would have allowed students who excelled in school and stayed out of trouble to become permanent residents and attend college or enlist in the military

“There’s something very wrong with the immigration laws when our government is deporting our best students,” Silverman said.

Fresno Bee

The Mkoyans are just one more example of the complexity of the situation many migrant worker families face in this era of stagnation when it comes to an overhaul of the immigration system in the U.S. They have a 12 year old son who was born here, therefore a citizen of this country, and a 17 year old eldest son who is top of his class and has already been accepted to UC-Davis in the fall to study Chemistry.

They are collateral damage to a government system that has dragged its feet over the years to unclog application processing, figure out what to do with mixed-status families, and diversify their procedures for treatment of migrant workers who don’t have criminal backgrounds. The default position of the U.S. government at this time is to either lock them up in a concentration camp where some are being killed through mistreatment, or deport them immediately regardless of family unity issues. This is inhumane and unacceptable.

Fortunately, local communities are banding together to exercise all legal options to keep these human rights violations at a minimum. In the case of Arthur Mkoyan, the media attention his case has received has initiated a wave of support.

Mkoyan, whose story was featured in Monday’s Bee, drew immediate support from a local Armenian advocacy group and fellow Bullard High students — and a promise from Rep. George Radanovich to take a second look at his request for help.

On Monday, Arthur said, he was showered with questions and offers of help from students and teachers at school, who hadn’t known of his plight. His home phone has been ringing off the hook as friends and supporters called. Television news reporters were trying to get an interview most of the day, Arthur said.

The shy 17-year-old with a 4.0 grade-point average said he is overwhelmed by the sudden attention.

“It makes me feel good people care,” he said.

Fresno Bee

The family has also reached out to Senator Diane Feinstein to see if she will support a private bill that, if passed, would give Arthur a green card and the ability to stay in the U.S. and finish his education. Even if it does not pass through Congress, though, the deportation order would be halted immediately upon submission of the bill. Please call her office, as well as the other listed public officials and ask them to support this worthy effort:

Senator Diane Feinstein
Fresno Office: (559) 485-7430
DC Office: (202) 224-3841>

Senator Barbara Boxer
Fresno Office: (559) 497-5109
DC Office: (202) 224-3553

And in this episode of Why Elections Matter, it should be noted that the Congressional Representative, George Radanovich-R (CA-19), has basically told them, “Tough Shit.”

Radanovich’s office acknowledged Monday that the family first sent a letter to the congressman on April 18. A few days later, a staff member told the family that its only option was a private bill to grant legal status to individuals, but that Radanovich doesn’t introduce private bills.

“He doesn’t feel he should be able to pick winners or losers and who should on an individual basis stay or leave,” said Spencer Pederson, Radanovich’s press secretary.

It should also be noted that Arthur Mkoyan’s deportation would be a non-issue if the Governator hadn’t vetoed California’s version of the D.R.E.A.M. Act (twice). The federal version of it is still languishing on Capitol Hill because lawmakers are too afraid to do anything substantive in an election year that might be construed (the horror!) as helpful to migrant workers and their families. I recommend bookmarking the group blog A Dream Deferred for updates on the bill’s status.

Crossposted at Booman Tribune, The Sanctuary, and Human Beams

 

Senate takes up DREAM Act

According to the Congressional Quarterly, a spokeswomen for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced today that the Dream Act will be taken up following Tuesday’s expected final vote on the 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (HR 3043).

Beyond the spending bill, it is unclear what legislation will round out next week’s floor schedule. The chamber could take up an immigration bill related to children (S 774), said Regan Lachapelle, a Reid spokeswoman.

Sponsored by Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., the bill would allow children of illegal immigrants who entered the United States before age 16 and lived here at least five years to gain conditional legal status. Under the bill, they could attain eventual citizenship if they attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years.

Congressional Quarterly

Ried, invoking Senate Rule XIV, has fast tracked the stand-alone bill, now numbered S.2205, which having languished in the Senate in one form or another for more than seven years, could finally be taken up as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.

Needless to say this news has received an apoplectic response from the ranks of the nativist wingnut agitators. They will undoubtedly try to rally their minion of flying monkeys to flood the offices of every Senator in Washington over the next few days. Numbers USA and FAIR already have screaming headlines up their sites to exhort their followers to action.

To counter this effort, an even more overwhelming response must be initiated on behalf of the thousand of children whose only hope at achieving the American dream rests on the passage of this bill.

Each year approximately 2.8 million students graduate from US High Schools. Some will go on to college, join the military, or take other paths in life, hopefully all becoming productive members of society. But for approximately 65,000 of them, these opportunities will never be available. Not because they lack motivation, or achievement, but because of the undocumented status passed on to them by their parents.

Lacking legal status and social security numbers, these students, raised and schooled in the US, cannot apply to college, get jobs other than those at the bottom of the economic ladder, or otherwise follow their dreams. They grew up on American soil, worked hard and succeeded in spite of all odds, and want nothing more than to be recognized as individuals and not just the holders of a status they had no part in acquiring.

In Washington, politicians have debated the fate of these kids for more than seven years, holding lives and futures in their hands while vying for political advantage.

For these kids, and the thousand more who have already managed, through sheer force of will, to complete their higher education but now face a life of uncertainty and alienation, the DREAM Act is the only answer. Please call your Senators starting first thing Tuesday morning.

Here’s a list of the most needed votes to make DREAM a reality.

This list of 19 fence sitters hold the hopes and dreams of thousands of hardworking, conscientious , kids in their hands. Kids who’ve done all that was asked of them, and now only want an opportunity to be the Americans they have always regarded themselves as.

-DUKE’S HOT 19 –

Murkowski (R-AK) 202-244-6665
Stevens (R-AK) 202224-3004
Pryor (D-AR) 202-224-2353
Martinez (R-FL) 202-224-3041
Inouye (D-HI) 202-224-3934
Brownback (R-KS) 202-224-6521
Landieu (D-LA) 202-224-5824
Collins (R-ME) 202-224-2523
Snowe (R-ME) 202-224-5344
Conrad (D-ND) 202-224-2043
Dorgan (D-ND) 202-224-2551
Dominici (R-NM) 202-224-6621
Voinovich (R-OH) 202-224-3353
Smith (R-OR) 202-224-3753
Graham (R-SC) 202-224-5972
Johnson (D-SD) 202-224-5842
Cornyn (R-TX) 202-224-2934
Warner(R-VA) 202-224-2023
Rockefeller (D-VA) 202-224-6472

At seven pages long, the DREAM Act has a few simple provisions that would allow thousands of kids who’ve worked hard and played by the rules to qualify for the exact same rights afforded every student in the nation. … the right to continue their educations and make a better life for themselves and there families.

Wingers call the legislation “just one more shamnsty” bill, because it allows those who have lived here most of there lives, and know no other home, a conditional reprieve from arrest and deportation. It allows them a chance to temporarily shrug off the yoke of their parents “misdeeds” and provides them an opportunity to prove themselves “worthy” of their adopted home.

The DREAM Act would provide a path to legality for persons brought illegally to the United States by their parents as children, or whose parents attempted to immigrate legally but were then denied legality.

To qualify, the immigrant student would have to meet certain requirements:

• Proof of having arrived in the United States before reaching 16 years of age;
• Proof of residence in the United States for a least five (5) consecutive years since their date of arrival.
• Having graduated from an American High School, or obtained a GED.
• “Good moral character,” essentially defined as the absence of a significant criminal record (or any drug charges whatsoever).
• Had not yet reached the age of 30 years on the date of enactment of this Act

After meeting the above requirements students would be eligible to apply for a temporary six year “conditional” residence permit which would allow them to live legally in the United States, obtain driver’s licenses, attend college as in-state residents, work legally (including obtaining a social security number), and apply for special travel documents which would allow for travel outside of the country for limited amounts of time.

During the six years of conditional status, the eligible immigrant would be required to either:

1. graduate from a two-year community college,
2. Complete at least two years towards a 4-year degree, or
3. serve two years in the U.S. military.

After the six year period, an immigrant who meets at least one of these three conditions would be eligible to apply for legal permanent resident (green card) status. During their temporary time, immigrants would not be eligible for federal higher education grants such as Pell grants, though they would be able to apply for student loans and work study.

If the immigrant does not meet the educational or military service requirement within the six year time period, their temporary residence would be revoked and he or she would be subject to deportation.

During the six years, the immigrant must not commit any crimes other than those considered non-drug related misdemeanors, regardless of whether or not they have already been approved for permanent status at the end of their six years.

Being convicted of a major crime or drug-related infraction would automatically remove the six year temporary residence status and he or she would be subject to deportation.

If the immigrant meets all of the conditions at the end of the 6-year conditional period, he or she would be granted a permanent green card with the same rights as a permanent resident alien, including the right to apply for U.S. citizenship.

It’s a simple enough bill. No hundreds of pages of legal-speak and loopholes like most immigration related legislation.

The qualifications are simple and cut and dry, The “benefits” and obligations easily understood. You can read a copy here to see for yourself.

Wingers are already gearing up to fight this bill. Their spin machine of obfuscating rhetoric is ready to go. Numbers USA has already sent out hundreds of thousands of action alerts to oppose the legislation. Michele Malkin, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Relly and Lou Dobbs are already spreading their foul bile and propaganda.

But there’s not much to debate here.

One either sees these children raised and schooled in America as future Americans …or sees them as nothing more than the products of their parents “misdeeds” who must be punished the rest of their lives as such.

Call your Senators Now (call between 9am and 5 pm)

Or e-mail your Senator

Better yet, Fax you Senator now

 

Action Alert: DREAM Act Reintroduced

Stace over at Dos Centavos has the info:

Representatives Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Howard Berman (D-CA) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) announced today that they will introduce the DREAM Act of 2007 tomorrow. In the Senate, Richard Durbin (D-IL) has announced that he will also do so within days, along with Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN).

The DREAM Act is bipartisan legislation that provides a path to legal residency for individuals who were brought to the U.S. years ago as undocumented immigrant children but who have since grown up here, stayed in school, and kept out of trouble. Most analysts agree that the DREAM Act stands a better chance of becoming law this year than ever before.

You can help to ensure that the DREAM Act does become law this year by calling your Congressional Representative today and showing your support. To find out who your Representative is and to get his or her phone number, click HERE.

For more information on the DREAM Act and how to go about advocating for its passage, go check out the post at Dos Centavos. The National Immigration Law Center also has a comprehensive list of resources to better educate yourself on this legislation.

If you’re in Arizona, here are the contact pages for the House Members:

AZ01 – Rick Renzi
AZ02 – Trent Franks
AZ03 – John Shadegg
AZ04 – Ed Pastor
AZ05 – Harry Mitchell (cpmaz at Random Musings has the local contact info)
AZ06 – Jeff Flake
AZ07 – Raúl Grijalva
AZ08 – Gabrielle Giffords

Contact them, even if you know that six feet of snow will drop in Gila Bend before they vote for it. They work for us.

[UPDATE] From the comments: you can also use AILA’s capwiz to contact your elected official.