Archive for January, 2010
Too Much At Stake for Complacency – A Call to Action for Immigration Reform
“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.”
I was born and raised in South Korea until I was 11. When I was in South Korea, the country was facing economic crisis. I remember our family had financial difficulties and we were in deep trouble. Soon after, our family filed bankruptcy. The following year, my mom and my dad divorced. With my mom and older sister, we were barely surviving in our home country, South Korea.
On July 25, 2001, we came to the United States to seek a better life. I was twelve years old. But once we arrived here, we faced a different set of challenges because of our immigration status.
As a single parent, it was hard for my mom to raise me and my sister. She works twelve hours a day, seven days a week, sacrificing her time and energy to support my education and provide food on the table each day. Almost every two months, she has to look for a different job because of her immigration status. She often looks exhausted and overwhelmed after work.
Like my mom, my sister works full-time. Until recently she attended community college at the same time but because of financial difficulties, she had to drop out. My sister had the chance to attend more prestigious colleges and universities. Instead, she is 24 years old and working two shifts at a restaurant, mopping floors, and washing dishes, while her friends are experiencing college life.
I also work at a restaurant and attend college full-time. While I feel fortunate to work, sometimes I feel humiliated working “under the table” and getting paid such low wages. It’s extremely difficult and frustrating, but it’s the only option for me to pay for college.
During my senior year in high school, I learned that my visa had expired and I was living here without documentation. While my friends talked about colleges, I worried about whether or not I could even go to college. Despite all my hard work in high school, I didn’t have access to educational opportunities that most people take for granted.
Being an Asian American undocumented student, it was especially challenging to come out from the shadow, because of the cultural taboo and social discrimination in my own community. This isolation led to periods of depression.
Worst of all, I’m afraid of being deported. I have nightmares about I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents knocking on the door to arrest my mom, sister, and me. I clearly remember one dream where I.C.E. agents chased after me in the darkness. As they surrounded me in a corner to arrest me, I woke up in a horror. I couldn’t go back to sleep. Every day, I search for a way out of these wicked nightmares.
One of the ways that I face my fear is that I’m speaking up.
Despite all the challenges I face, I’ve never given up my hopes of achieving higher education and living my dreams like everybody else.
Today, I have a 3.8 GPA and involve in many extra-curricular activities. I work hard and push myself to show that anything is possible in this country, despite my undocumented status. And I will continue to push myself to be a role model to other people, especially in the Asian American community.
There are thousands of Asian American undocumented students who are struggling to live a normal life just like me. Clearly, immigration is not only a Latino issue; it impacts everyone. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security report, about 11.6 million undocumented immigrants are living in this country. 1.2 million are Asian American. Moreover, a recent report by the University of California Office of the President revealed that 40 to 44 % of undocumented students in the UC system are Asian, of which 60% are Korean, 14% are Chinese, 10% are Filipino, 7% are Indian or Pakistani, 7% are Thai or other Asian descent.
Asian Americans are the second largest undocumented population, yet I believe we have not been as visible in fighting against discrimination and promoting immigration reform.
UCLA Labor Center, Kent Wong said, “These [undocumented] students risk themselves to speak out despite having no legal status and being subjugated to deportation, but greater risk is silence in the face of oppression and injustice!”
I knew I couldn’t just wait and hope for politicians to solve our problems. In spite of deportation, it is crucial that our voices get heard. We need to fight for our dreams that will determine our future. In this economic recession, immigrants and minorities will get the worst hit. However, we cannot simply give up and be silent.
How long do we have to wait for the immigration system to be fixed? Not long I’d say, if Latino, Asian American and others come out from the shadow and address this critical issue together. It is urgent us to erase old traditional cultural taboos and move forward.
Korean American community needs to stand up. Chinese American community needs to stand up. Vietnamese American community needs to stand up. Pakistani American community needs to stand up. Japanese American community needs to stand up. Indian American community needs to stand up. All Asian American communities need to stand up to fight and push comprehensive immigration reform to pass in 2010.
Don’t be silent or ashamed to talk about immigration or your lives; we need you more than ever before. Comprehensive immigration reform will pass only if we stand united as one.
2010 is going to be a special year. It will be the year that the immigration reform will pass and we can all begin a new chapter in our lives.
The work of waiting
Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. – Psalm 27:14
God knows that it is not easy for you to obey him as you strain against your natural instincts; nevertheless, at times he asks you to wait. He also knows that when you wait on him, you grow in faith and learn to respond with strength and wisdom. Those times give you the opportunity to place your hope in God’s faithfulness rather than to focus on your own need for gratification.
Be still be before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. PSALM 37:7
Officials Hid Truth of Immigrant Deaths in Jail
Officials Hid Truth of Immigrant Deaths in Jail
By NINA BERNSTEIN
Published: January 9, 2010
Silence has long shrouded the men and women who die in the nation’s immigration jails. For years, they went uncounted and unnamed in the public record. Even in 2008, when The New York Times obtained and published a federal government list of such deaths, few facts were available about who these people were and how they died.
But behind the scenes, it is now clear, the deaths had already generated thousands of pages of government documents, including scathing investigative reports that were kept under wraps, and a trail of confidential memos and BlackBerry messages that show officials working to stymie outside inquiry…
(Click the link to be continue)
Meet my friend, Miguel
One of my good friends from Cal State East Bay, Miguel P, hosted an event that he has first organized to promote the DREAM Act. For couple of days, Miguel was looking for a student who is willing to share a testimony with him. Miguel generously asked me to see if I’m willing to share my testimony or not. Without any hesitation, I told him I would do it.
I first met Miguel at the San Jose “Mock Graduation,” of event that promoted awareness about the reform of immigration in America. Students from Bay Area gathered together in one place, wore cap and gowns, shared testimonies and expressed concerns about our current broken immigration system that lies in this country. The purpose of mock graduation ceremony was to bring sense of urgency to pass the DREAM Act and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The research suggested that 65,000 undocumented students graduating from high school every year, with fine academic performance and serve in thousands of hours in the community, yet they are ineligible to attend college due to the immigration status. One of the Mock Graduation students was holding a sign up high, which it spotted many of us to see clearly. It said, “What now?” with a huge black font. The sign, “what now?” clearly indicates the oppression and limitation of undocumented student’s future despite of their education.
Miguel is fairly short compare to average men’s height, brown skin, slightly chubby I’d say, but has a charming face. Compare to his age, he looks very mature and friendly. He is firmed and serious. Most of the time, he is quiet and thoughtful.
Miguel and I exchanged conversation after the mock graduation, with couple of other DREAM activists. I do not recall what we talked about, but I remember he wanted to get more involved and do something in his college. Shortly after the mock graduation event, he has organized his first event in his campus.
It was on January 7th, 2010, I took a bus and Bart down to Cal State East Bay to participate in Miguel’s event, hosted by MECHA club (Miguel is a secretary of MECHA club). When I arrived to the campus, my heart rate began to increase. I was excited to see Miguel and anticipation of the outcome of his event.
Miguel welcomed me in the Union University room, which is supposedly food court area. When I saw Miguel, I could tell he was glad to see me again. We exchanged few conversations, and then we rushed down to the Diversity Center where the event was held.
The room was filled with students and professors, anticipating something to learn. The event started off with a short film called a “don’t stop me now,” produced by Educator for Fair Consideration foundation. The short film concentrates on stories of four undocumented youth struggling to get ahead in life. Although the film was 30 minute length, but it was a powerful, and clearly educated the spectators about our broken immigration system. In the end of the film, the crowd shed in tears.
The emotional stage elevated as Miguel and I shared our personal journey as an undocumented immigrant. Just like other undocumented students, Miguel had a similar struggle story. Miguel came to this country with his family when he was young and graduated with high school with outstanding grades, and had dreams of becoming someone valuable to this country. By means someone who can contribute and give back to the society. However, he was marginalized its own dream due to the immigration status. One of the pieces of story that he shared really struck my heart. Miguel has worked as a janitor since he was in high school. I cannot imagine a young educated person mops floor and picks up trashes around schools, while other students moving onto next towards life.
The people were moved by Miguel’s story and they wanted to help his cause to change the broken immigration system.
I firmly believe that my duty as a DREAMer, as an educator, as an activist, is to spread stories just like Miguel, to educate other people and inspire them to mobilize and take action to make changes in this country. And I know that one day, stories like Miguel, will change this country.
An Undocumented Princetonian
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03alien-t.html?pagewanted=1&ref=edlife
But Harold Fernandez was different from most freshmen. Amory Blaine had been to prep school, and his mother, though not of the privileged class, had raised him to appreciate the treasures of Western culture. Harold had been raised in the streets of Medellín, Colombia, listening to tango and salsa lyrics that spoke of the harsh local realities of violence, drugs and prison. His American schooling was in a gritty factory town, West New York, N.J.
He also harbored a secret. He had entered Princeton using a fake green card and Social Security number that he had acquired in the immigrant black market, because he had been smuggled into Florida on a leaky boat crowded with illegal immigrants.
Relentless poverty had driven his parents to leave him and his younger brother Byron in Medellín as they scraped together a living in the United States. The parents missed their sons terribly and were desperate to have them escape what was then the world’s cocaine capital. The boys’ childhood neighborhood was lively with children kicking soccer balls, but Harold had twice witnessed young men being shot to death in drug wars; violence would ultimately claim six of his own relatives.
…. continue : http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03alien-t.html?pagewanted=1&ref=edlife
My feet is tired, but my soul is rested
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.
