Tell Me A Story

   
     There has been much talk in politics about how many undocumented students we have in public schools. There has been debate over how to handle it, and how it even came about that we have so many undocumented students enrolled in school. The Immigration Policy Center explains that approximately 65,000 undocumented students a year who finish school but cannot go to college or enter the workforce. The DREAM ACT was a possible solution to that problem, proposing that undocumented youth be granted amnesty if they were brought into this country illegally as a child, with the stipulation that they attend college or join the military.
 
 Some people embraced this proposal, seeing it as a fit solution to a difficult situation. These youth broke no laws by their own accord, they were brought here as infants, toddlers, or children by parents or guardians. Some came legally with visas and just overstayed them, many of them have no idea of their situation until high school. Many of those who hoped for the DREAM ACT to pass were these undocumented youth, it was their one chance to have a life in this country. Meanwhile, some of those opposing it lacked any understanding of the situation and only saw it as amnesty for illegals, or were on the complete other side and saw it as a way of forcing Hispanic youth (and other immigrant groups) into the military.

 
 Both sides essentially ruined the entire opportunity for these undocumented youth, there were radicals on one side claiming this would open the flood gates and eventually legalize all undocumented persons. Some claiming they are all criminals and should just be deported no matter the circumstance. While on the other side we had organizations and groups like La Raza upset over the fact that these undocumented youth would have to join the service or go to college, claiming this was unjust or unfair. However neither side realized that 1). the bill was about youth who did not break the laws themselves and 2). most of these youth want nothing more than to go to school or get a steady job.
 
Neither of these positions ever stopped and took a step back from their own emotions and heated debates to ask the real people it was going to affect. They all stood with mouths wide open spewing out their opinions of how other peoples lives should be handled. I asked someone who was undocumented how he felt about this entire situation.

Interview:



(me): How do you feel about the DREAM ACT?

(interviewee): I think it was a good effort.

(me): Do you wish it had passed? Not just for your sake, but for other students who are just like you?

(interviewee): Well, of course, it is not only me in this situation, but my sister as well, and it is sad because she has an even more promising future, I would do anything to make her life easier.

(me): Tell me a little about your sister.

(interviewee): She is super smart, she has a great attitude despite her situation, she graduated with honors in high school, and she still has big dreams for her future.

(me): Do you think people really understand what it is like for people in your situation?

(interviewee): No, because they think that it is a choice, we didn't choose to come here this way, and a lot of other people didn't either. We didn't come here to take advantage, we came here for opportunity. People don't understand that even a simple jay-walking ticket or after-curfew citation could end the little freedom we have. Something that residents take for granted.

(me): Who do you blame for the DREAM ACT not passing?

(interviewee): I blame both sides. My side for making us look like radical protesting ungrateful nuisances, most of whom are people who aren't even undocumented, people who just think they are fighting for us, when they have no idea what we even want. They speak for us without even asking us. I also blame the other side for thinking that we are just criminals and should be treated as such. They think we have no desire to be successful, that we just want to take advantage of this country, or even take it back, haha.

(me): It seems like you feel like your voice was lost amid everyone else's fighting, that things are too political and not even really about the issue?

(interviewee): Yes, I would say lost, or even just that it is one of too many. I would say things did go off issue when it became a thing of race instead of allegiance. It is not like we are Mexicans wanting to be Mexicans living in America. We are Mexican Americans who want to be recognized as such, we want to be seen as Mexican-Americans, or even American-Mexicans, because there are some of us who don't even speak any Spanish.

(me): Well, that sounds pretty powerful, any last things you want to say?

(interviewee): I want everyone to stop speaking for us when they don't even bother to ask what we want and how we want it. I hope someday soon we can have another DREAM ACT and have it pass, to help all those kids out there who want nothing more than to live a fulfilling life in this great country.