In April this year, I wrote an entry about my legal status in the U.S.A. As I mentioned in that earlier post, even though I have a social security number, I am still in legal limbo. I'm not a "legal" resident or citizen, and I have been waiting on the so called "line" for almost 10 years. The wait is not over.
This post is for the people who know me or have gotten to know me for the past 20 years I've been living in this country.
Ever since I set foot in this nation, I worked in the restaurant industry. Two weeks after I arrived in New York, in 1990, I started working as a dishwasher. From that point on, restaurants became an easy and familiar way to make a living. Whether working as a dishwasher, busboy, server, or host, I always felt some sort of economic security and stability.
All together, I worked in the service industry for about 15 years. Along the way I met many interesting people and I developed long term friendships, some of which I still keep in touch to this day. To those remarkable people that came across my life, I dedicate this.
While you may have met me as a host, server or busboy many years ago, I now have a clinical license in social work. That means I put myself through college and graduate school, getting a degree and taking additional licensure exams in order to arrive at where I am today. Today, I enjoy my career everyday, helping children and families address their concerns. I advocate and empower individuals and educate families to reach stability.
But this entry is not about me. What this is about is, the DREAM Act. (The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 (S. 729).
"Each year, approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school, many at the top of their classes, but cannot go to college, join the military, work, or otherwise pursue their dreams. They belong to the 1.5 generation—any (first generation) immigrants brought to the United States at a young age who were largely raised in this country and therefore share much in common with second generation Americans. These students are culturally American, growing up here and often having little attachment to their country of birth. They tend to be bicultural and fluent in English. Many don’t even know that they are undocumented immigrants until they apply for a driver’s license or college, and then learn they lack Social Security numbers and other necessary legal documents. "
You see, I'm a DREAMer. When I decided to enroll in a GED program at Truman College, I did not have a social security. It was not until about half way in my Bachelor's program at NEIU that I was able to obtain a SS number, only to find out that using it would set me apart, in a different part of the cage, but still in the cage nonetheless.
The DREAM Act has been brought up in Congress twice already. Unfortunately, both times it was defeated by small margins due to political tactics that don't go beyond pragmatism, and solve nothing in the end. Sen. McCain has supported, then vote against it, and who knows what he will do when it comes up again in the near future.
While I would like to say that this is an attempt for me to finally resolve my legal status, see, I'm 35 years old, and in the text in the DREAM Act Bill, the cut-off age for any one benefiting from it is 35 years old. I'm really doing this for all the youth risking their freedom and lives in sit-in protests in Arizona, California and D.C. and hunger strikes. Already this year the DREAM Act was defeated even before coming to a vote, two weeks before the Nov. 2nd elections. Now, Sen. Harry Reid, and House Majority leader, Nancy Pelosi have promised again to bring it up for a vote on Nov. 29th during the "lame duck" session of Congress.
I'm a pleading to you, all. I want you to please give young DREAMers a chance. Just like when you met me along my journey, hopefully you could see and evaluate me through my character. Young DREAMers do this everyday. They work hard in their communities. They protest the status quo. And they deserve a chance that politicians aren't giving them in Washington today.
Please familiarize yourself with the DREAM Act and encourage others to do it as well. Supporting it may make the difference for the DREAMers who will get us out of this economic mess, and the next generation of doctors, professors, scientists or social workers (look at me!). Feel free to use me as an example. DREAMers are not bad people like populist and conservative pundits want to make people believe. It is a little late for me, but seeing what other young people are doing nowadays, standing up for freedom and justice really stirs up some emotions. Please do it for my sister who has began her career in child development, for a friend who is on his way to obtaining his PhD, for my friend's son who is enrolled in one of the top two high schools in Chicago. But most importantly, do it because it's the morally right thing to do. I wish I could educate everyone about this issue, but knowing you and also knowing the power of the internet, I know you can all help me too.
Take Action! Call your state's representatives and Senators urging them to support the DREAM Act. Urge others to call as well. The more people call and awareness we raise throughout state lines, the better chances the bill has to pass.
Thanks for reading this.
Nacho
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