Students for Fair Consideration

Dear friends and supporters,

Today, we are going to witness a defining moment in history in our lives.

On January 1st, 2010, four passionate young immigrant students from Florida will walk 2,000 mile and 4-month long journey to rewrite the American History. These bravery students will begin to walk from Florida to Washington D.C. to bring sense of urgency to solve our broken immigration system. They are demanding President Obama to stop the separation of families and deportation of DREAMers. Most importantly, they want to see just and humane immigration reform that includes equal access to education, an end to the separation of families, worker’s rights, and a pathway to citizenship. By May 1st, 2010, they hope to stand in the U.S. Capitol with thousands of people across from the states to rally for the comprehensive immigration reform.

I want to share one of the four walker’s story, Gaby, who truly inspired me and thousands of other people in this country.

Gaby moved to Miami at the age of seven. Gaby holds an Associate of Arts degree in Music Education, and an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education, as well as a BA in Exceptional Education Degree K-12 from Miami Dade College. She was the Student Government Association President at the Kendall Campus of Miami Dade College and the Florida Junior Community Colleges Student Government Association President in 2005-2006, representing 1.1 million students throughout Florida. Since 2003, she has been an advocate for the DREAM Act and in-state tuition and was one of the founding members of S.W.E.R. Gaby is a woman that would give the clothes on her back to help someone who needs it more. She walks for all the children without a voice and is willing to sacrifice herself to pave the way for their future because she believes in the power of love. She also believes that “the meltdown of our society will not start with global warming rather with intellectual freezing,” and she “can’t understand why we continue to detain young vibrant students when we know that we only live once and the future depends on the youth.” She walks because in her heart she knows that faith without action is dead!

Our task is clear and simple, we have to make these student’s dreams into reality. We must, because their dream is our dream, and their future is our future. We must, because if alone, can’t reach the final destination. They are calling us in California, they need our help. We may not be able to walk with them physically, but we can surely help them in many different ways. There are several ways we can help the students: 1. Fund-raise 2. In solidarity, fast and walk in our home base. 3. Visit trailofdreams.net to show our support. These are the ways to help them to achieve its goal, but there are plenty of other ways to help them as well. With that being said, I’m determined – I’m determined to sacrifice and risk myself to help them. However, my sacrifice is far beyond the measure from these bravery students, but I want to show in solidarity of support and I want to be part of making a history in 2010.

So then, my question is, will you sacrifice with them? I believe through sacrifice is the only way to make our dreams into reality. Imagine how difficult for them to make a decision to sacrifice their education, their time, and their own body. They are completely exposing and risking themselves just to represent on behalf of 12 million immigrant’s dreams. Despite of all the odds and challenges, they are willing to fight for the dreams that will determine our future. Through this movement, I can clearly see the sense of urgency. They cannot wait, I cannot wait, and we as DREAMers cannot wait for another decades to fix the broken immigration reform. We cannot wait and time is now! I can see it, I can see it. So let’s make these student’s dreams into reality.

The time is critical and the opportunity is near, we must act as if 2010 will be the last chance for us. So let us sacrifice our needs and show our strength to reach our dreams. During a President Election campaign, Obama gave a great speech in the day before the Martin Luther King’s Holiday Day. He said, “Brothers and sisters, we cannot walk alone. In the struggle for peace and justice, we cannot walk alone. In the struggle for opportunity and equality, we cannot walk alone. In the struggle to heal this nation and repair this world, we cannot walk alone. So I ask you to walk with me, and march with me, and join your voice with mine, and together we will sing the song that tears down the walls that divide us, and lift up an America that is truly indivisible, with liberty, and justice, for all.” Again, this movement shouldn’t be just four students alone. This is not a Florida’s action; this is a national wide action to fulfill our dreams.

2010 is going to be a special year for all of us. It is the year that we don’t need to just dream, it is the year that we will make our dreams into reality. It will be the year that we will celebrate together and begin a new chapter for our lives.

I want to close out with speech that Martin Luther King Jr. gave during civil rights movement’s era. Dr. Martin Luther King spoke to this fatigue the week after the Selma March in a message titled “Our God is Marching On. “We have walked through desolate valleys and across the trying hills. We have walked on meandering highways and rested our bodies on rocky byways. Some of our faces are burned from the outpourings of the sweltering sun. Some have literally slept in the mud. We have been drenched by the rains. Our bodies are tired and our feet are somewhat sore. But today as I stand before you and think back over that great march, I can say, as Sister Pollard said—a seventy-year-old Negro woman who lived in this community during the bus boycott—and one day, she was asked while walking if she didn’t want to ride. And when she answered, “No,” the person said, “Well, aren’t you tired?” And with her ungrammatical profundity, she said, “My feet is tired, but my soul is rested.”

My prayer goes out to four bravery students walking Florida to Washington D.C.

Sincerely,
-Ju

This is my first piece ever done using technology. It’s a piece made of three separate pieces that all speak to the same issue…the inequality in our educational system created by the broken immigration system. The piece is to be read from left to right starting from the steel balls. The piece in itself is pretty self explanatory, legal status holds many students back from getting their education and going past high school due to their inability to afford the cost of college.

As you may know, congressman Luis Gutierrez introduced Comprehensive immigration reform in December 15th, 2009. Since the actual bill carries 644 pages, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium summarize key bullet points of the CIR bill, specifically focus on legalization persons who brought to the U.S. before age of 16.

Here is the following:

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009 has special rules for persons brought to the United States Before the Age of 16:

1) exempt from paying $500 fine if brought before the age of 16, have resided in the U.S. for at least 5 years, and were 35 years of age or less at tim application under CIR ASAP
2) eligible for accelerated LPR status upon graduation from high school upon completion of two years of college or military service OR or employment for at least two years prior to date of application (full-time, part-time, or seasonally).
3) eligible for naturalization three years after date of LPR status is granted.
4) sec. 411 calls for the repeal of section 505 of the “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996″ – in other words, gives states less reason to cite federal law to deny undocumented students in-state tuition benefits

Requirements for earned legalization (specific eye towards undocumented young people):

1) Demonstrate contribution to the United States through employment, education, military service, or voluntary or community service, where applicable. Exemptions: 1) undocumented people under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and 2) individual brought to the U.S. before the age of 16, have resided in the U.S. for at least 5 years, and were 35 years of age or less at tim application under CIR ASAP
2) Complete criminal and security background checks
3) Establish registration under the Selective Service (if applicable)
4) Meet English and civics requirements. Graduation from a U.S. high school or receipt of an equivalency degree will meet the English proficiency requirement
5) Undergo a medical examination
6) Pay all taxes (same exemptions as #1)
7) Show admissibility to the U.S

Town Hall Meeting on Immigration, 12.18.09., at San Francisco.
(pictures/videos/etc.. more coming soon)

Would a truly reputable national newspaper use the N-word to describe African-Americans and say it is just “company policy?”

I doubted it. But that the USA Today has done something similar.

On December 15, USA Today ran an article titled “Groups try to delay deportations of illegal students,” in which they called young immigrant students in the United States “illegal students.”

USA Today reporter, Emily Bazar (ebazar@usatoday.com), says she is just following company policy when she labels young immigrants without papers as “illegal students.” See the email where she justifies her actions by implicating that even the National Council of La Raza agrees with the usage of the word.

Appalling, isn’t it? I get the “illegal immigrant” euphemism because that slur is familiar. But just what exactly is an “illegal student?”

Erin Rosa from Campus Progress lays a must-read snarky smackdown on USA Today for using the term “illegal student” especially since it is almost impossible to be one in the United States:

First off, schooling for primary and secondary education is compulsorily in the United States, meaning that public schools are obligated to teach every child, undocumented or not. Even if Bazar is talking about higher education, universities and colleges are not legally bared from teaching to undocumented immigrants so long as they pay their own tuition bills. (Obtaining financial aid or in-state tuition is another story.) So, if “illegal” is being used by USA Today as an adjective to describe students in the United States, what is it about their status as scholars that would specifically make them illegal?

How can a group of people create and label disenfranchised populations in dehumanizing terms? This labeling process is based on the same institutionalized racism and homophobia directed against minorities. Niggers, fags, gooks, chinks, flips and so many other labels have been used to subjugate and subordinate people throughout history, denying them claims to citizenship and civic participation. This is not any different. “Illegal” is yet another otherizing and offensive term that we need to eliminate from public discourse as a way of describing people.

No human being can be illegal. Click on this link to tell USA Today to stop competing with the archaic immigration system and drop the use of the word ‘illegal’ http://www.change.org/actions/view/ask_usatoday_what_do_you_mean_by_illegal_students

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Dear E4FC Crew,

Hope you are all doing well. I have an update from a past event I organized at City College of San Francisco (Ocean Campus).

I organized the first student-run training for CCSF counselors and faculty about AB540/undocumented students. It was the first time I organized an event of this kind, and I felt proud of myself. I would like to enormously thank Perla, my S4FC advisor, for going beyond her role as advisor, not only during the preparation of the event, but also afterward. I also want to thank Kathy for providing me the opportunity to be part of the E4FC Crew and be able to access to all the networks and resources as a Student Ambassador. Also, I want to thank  Beleza for her always supporting words. And thank you to Andrea for coming from SFSU, and to Ingrid for coming all the way from Stanford in order to give their testimonies.

The event lasted two hours and went pretty smoothly. All the people who attended became interesting in learning more about undocumented students’ issues and left the event willing to provide their support  in the future. The student testimonies really impacted them, as I saw at least two counselors crying.

The image I attached is the sticker I designed for CCSF counselors. The stickers will be kept posted in counselors’ office doors, guaranteeing that future undocumented students will feel empowered to ask for help.

Thanks for all your support E4FC!

By Jennifer McNulty

Patricia Zavella’s article appears in the Winter 2009 issue of Ms. magazine.

In an article in the Winter 2009 issue of Ms. magazine, Patricia Zavella challenges Congress to reform immigration law.

Zavella, a professor and chair of Latin American and Latino studies (University of California Santa Cruz), showcases the life-and-death decisions immigrant women face as they decide whether to risk crossing the border.

The article, “Ana’s Choice,” highlights the “feminization” of immigration. Women now make up 46 percent of authorized migrants from Mexico and about one-third of all unauthorized migrants, a jump from 26 percent before the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, writes Zavella.

During these two weeks, I’ve been anxiously waiting to hear from the principal to get her approval to start the program at her school. So far, I haven’t gotten any sort of response from her… it has been very aggravating since I’m already behind on some of the things I wanted to get going this semester that can’t come forward until her approval is permanently done. Hopefully she will come through soon to give these minority students the help that they really need. I just simply don’t understand how she wouldn’t jump at this opportunity as soon as she heard of it, I would imagine that any school would love the idea…

Anyways, I’m very excited to see most of you on the 28th! I can’t wait to hear what all of you have been doing and what upcoming things you all have in mind. :]

After reading several articles about the dreamer’s deportation cases, it came to me in an epiphany that I may have chance to face deportation too. It’s a brutal, yet it’s a clear fact for me as well as other undocumented students. In the past, my family always told me to conceal my identity so that I won’t be able to get caught by the I.C.E. However, I’ve been constantly exposed myself to the public numerous times. In fact, I knew the circumstances: I will not only put myself into risk, but also put our family into jeopardy.

It sounds obscure to understand, but deep inside of my heart I knew I had to take a risk to help my family and my peers. Kent Wong once said, “These young students risk themselves to speak out despite of no legal status and subjugate to deportation, but greater risk is the silence of the face of oppression and face of injustice!” Indeed, it is crucial for all of us to fight for our dreams that will determine our future. I knew I couldn’t just wait and hoping for politicians to solve our problems. This is when I knew I had to do something to share my story and help other people. In this economic recession, immigrants and minorities get the worst hit, especially undocumented students. I feel as if poor get poorer and rich get richer. In the midst of financial crisis, however, we are not willing to give up. There are thousands of undocumented students are working full-time job at the restaurant, sometimes working double shifts and earning eight dollars an hour to support the family. Worst of all, these students have no government issued ID to proof its identity and unable to drive or get financial aid, which makes undocumented students to work triple hours than other students. These are one of the few struggles that undocumented students are facing in this difficult time, however, they had shown moral virtues to serve in schools as well as in communities. Also, they are proven to be strong and able to overcome these challenges and successfully graduate from top school with honors and recognitions. But despite of all that, our time is the most crucial part of all of us.

So in this critical time, we must stand united. We, as Dreamers, are depending on the DREAM Act to pass by next year. Let us be optimistic about our future. Let us be ready and prepare to shift our focus on the immigration issues. As many people would say, we must organize, mobilize, and take collective action. Every day, I’m glad to see we are growing and getting stronger. By next year, let’s look back our tragedy that happened in 2007 and let’s make sure it will not happen again. C. Whitton once said, “It’s how you deal with failure that determines how you achieve success.” With that being said, we must pressure Congress and President Obama to Pass the DREAM Act as well as Comprehensive immigration reform starting today. It’s not too late to reach our dreams; it is rather matter of commitments and dedication for next couple of months to strive for our dream. “You only live once – but if you work it right, once is enough.” J. Lewis. Let’s win this fight in 2010.

DREAM Act 2010.

DREAM Act workshop – on November 14 my first official workshop took place at the facilities of Southwest Community Health Center. Thanks to the outreach department (Abigail Barajas, Rory Flores) two whole hours were giving to me to educate about 15 teens on the DREAM Act. To help with the presentation I did a powers point of 16 slides title “Class of Promising Students.” Each slide had a title that would give the students a clue of what was going to be talk about on the slide. For example: slide one is title “Definition of an undocumented student” before giving the definition, I asked the students to give me their own definition. I did this so they could feel part of the presentation and is not just me taking for the whole two hours. I try to get everyone talking, so for a lot of questions that I had for them I would try to get everybody to say a one thing. And after making out definition I would continue and showed what was on my power point and related to the things they have said. Some of the other slides are; challenges face pursuing college education, legislation affecting undocumented students, what is the DREAM Act? why is the DREAM Act needed? Economy and tax revenues, requirements(DREAM Act), Not quality (for the DREAM Act), and DREAM Act current status.
Also with every slide I had pictures that would represent the pain point of that slide and most of the time we talked about the pictures. I found it very important to have good pictures because they turn into good conversation with the group. My main focus was the keep the group with me like a fun activity and not like I was a teacher. Both at the beginning and the end for the presentations I did some icebreakers about American politics, to get a sense on where the group was standing on their knowledge and vocabulary. I wanted to make sure they had an idea on what I was talking about when I would mention congress, house of representatives, legislators, bills, etc. I also gave as part of the game a few statistics about congress so they would get a picture on how underrepresented minorities are in congress.
After the first hour we took a break for people to stretch around and get some food. I brought some chips, salsa and juice. The staff from the Teen Advocacy Group provided bagels, milk, cereal, yogurt, burritos and sweet bread. So there was a lot of food for everyone to have during the two hours. They also provided a projector for the power point so it was big and clear for everyone to see.
After the presentation was over a lot of the teens wanted me to come to their school and do my power point presentations. A lot of them seem to be really interested on coming involve with the DREAM Act movement and invited me to other programs they are part of, also one of the girls wants to do her high school graduation hours with me by helping me facilitate the presentations and others meetings.