Students for Fair Consideration

“Look at those illegals,” my friend said jokingly while he was dropping me off to the Bart Station. He pointed at two Mexican immigrants standing against the fence. Although it was a joke, I was extremely angry. Yet, I was defenseless and vulnerable. I simply laughed with him and stayed casual as if nothing happened. Once he dropped me off, I wondered if he would treat me differently if he knew that I’m also “illegal.”

Too Much At Stake for Complacency – A Call to Action for Immigration Reform

November 14, 1999.

That’s the inauspicious date that my father chose to drag me to this country.

The 10-year anniversary is creeping up soon and I would do anything to erase these 10 years from my life, reverse every bit of it and do it over. I am sick of the United States. If this government gave me a green card tomorrow, I would cut it up and mail it to Obama. He can seriously keep it.

I have kept myself busy with law school applications, not that law is my calling. My online browser keeps opening up to my dream school, University of British Columbia in Vancouver. I filled out the application but I realize that getting a student permit to Canada would be tougher than simply obtaining permanent residency for Canada, in my case.

With the Obama Administration fighting the Child Status Protection Act lawsuit and prospects of immigration reform nowhere in sight, the Canadian federal worker permanent residency application is getting enticing. I have slowly collected enough money to file it in Buffalo and undergo the grueling process.

[...]

Infant Deportation Case | Statesman.com

I found this article through Prerna’s delicious bookmarks. It is really helpful for finding news information releveant to our community. Just to reiterate what Prerna said before, check out her delicious bookmarks–very helpful!

Back to the article, it really is very unfortunate and tragic. Just as a background story, a woman’s child who was 1 year old was sent back to Mexico by the Border Police. To me, it seems like there is a line being crossed whenever families and children are taken away from each other. At that point, it becomes even extreme. Besides the documentation problem, an emotional dimension also arises. Beyond the papers and even the photo pictures attached to every file and document is a story, a dream, and a life–which become largely ignored from the process. What those who are not directly affected understand or realize, is that so much of our lives in America is now entrenched within this soil. We have formed lives and goals centered around being here. Friends, families, universities, careers–so much that could be left behind if we were forced to leave.

On a more personal note, I am still trudging through my first year/semester of college. My first midterms are coming up this week. I hope I do well. This last Thursday was the UC Walkout. The rally was so much more than I had imagined. I honestly felt like I was a part of a revolution–chills went through my spine. Their chants were so catchy and heartfelt. I seriously hope that the tuition costs do not increase and that the students and faculty get what they deserve.

Till next time.

Crossposted from The Sanctuary

It is sad that most of our social networks and media blitzes are about how disrespectful Joe Wilson was rather than how centrist and inappropriate Barack Obama is with his assertion that all human beings don’t deserve equal access to health care. He has to repeat himself while using the hateful discourse of ‘illegal.’ That’s just low.

I wish Joe Wilson was right and Obama was lying about the fact that undocumented immigrants would not be covered. But Obama is a liar. Just not in the way that Joe Wilson meant it. Once upon a time, he used to be a proponent of single-payer health care — “Everybody in, nobody out.” And now that seems to be out the window. Sorry ‘illegals’ and everyone else who can’t provide proper documentation. And this list also includes citizens:

I am effectively an “illegal immigrant,” since I do not have gov’t papers. Yes, this is because I am trans and a woman. (via @nueva_voz)

I am also who Obama called an ‘illegal’ today. But my family is here legally. Denying me access to health care, would put my health care needs squarely on their shoulders. How is that any change from the status quo?

All this makes me think that if the President had pursued immigration reform before health care, we probably wouldn’t be seeing this hateful fear-mongering heckling. Yet, President Obama has continued to pursue the same failed immigration enforcement policies of the Bush-era like 287g that is ripping apart communities of color.

Anything less than single-payer universal health care is a dismal failure when it comes to providing everyone with equal access to health care. Anything without a public option is not close to tolerable. I wish people were as outraged at Obama’s centrist and hateful otherization of human beings as they are at Joe Wilson being an idiot.

Part of my internship at the Asian Law Caucus last semester, was working with an API (Asian Pacific Islander) youth group called ASPIRE, which stands for Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education. At ASPIRE, students participated in protests, lobbied local, state and national legislators, but, more than anything, students gained a strong understanding that they have to speak for themselves if they want change, such as the DREAM Act, to happen.

It was a very interesting experience, and got me exposed to organizing at a level I was not so used to, since I come from a very grassroots, very student-based organizing background. It also led me to work with a different population.

So many people ask me: “What is the difference between organizing with the Latino versus the API population?.” And I must say, there are way more similarities than differences. Culture and language barriers may vary, but the experiences that these undocumented youth face are just as inspiring.

For some proof about what I am telling you, check out ASPIRE’s summer documentary.

ASPIRE ALC