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My name is Michelle Valladarez. I’m 20 years old and I’m undocumented. When I was eight years old, my father made some choices that put my brother and I in a dangerous situation in Honduras, where I was born. Daily I would get pulled out of class and questioned on my father’s whereabouts. We were no longer safe, not even in school. Fearing the worst, my mother decided to bring my brother to the United States. A year later, she sent for me. Luckily, my brother was able to enter the country by plane. I had to cross the border. At such a young age I had heard plenty about the terrible things that happen when trying to cross into the US. I was terrified. It took nearly two months to get to North Carolina, but finally I was reunited with my family.
I was excited to be here and excited to return to school. Since I had attended a bilingual school in Honduras, English was not a barrier for me. But even though I knew English and felt like I had a better future ahead of me, my excitement quickly died when I saw how difficult the life of an illegal immigrant is. Everywhere I went I was faced with racism and in school I got bullied plenty. It felt like it could not get any worse.. until I got to high school and had to start thinking about college that is.
Michelle Valladarez is an undocumented youth from Zebulon, NC. Her dream is to join the Air Force.
My first two years of high school were fairly smooth. I had good grades and developed a love and appreciation for the military after I joined AFJROTC. Once I got to my junior year though, depression slowly began to sink in. It hit me that I might not be able to attend college or join the military. I reached out to recruiters and my school counselor in hopes of finding an answer. My school counselors had never been faced with this situation since most students live in the shadows and in fear because of their immigration status. They didn’t know what to do any more than I did. My parents began to share my frustration and fear. They suggested I go back to Honduras or to go study in Mexico. This is an issue that most immigrant students face. In their frustration, parents lose sight of what is truly important to us and instead of being supportive their solution to the problem is to send us back to our country of origin. I refused to give up. I refused to go back.
Even though my Junior year felt tough, I decided to suck it up and give my last year of high school the best I had. The biggest highlight of my senior year was becoming Group Commander of my JROTC Unit and exceeding expectations for our Unit inspection. That brought us to the top 10% of all AFJROTC units in the country. My dream of being in the military grew even more and I looked into the eligibility requirements for an Air Force Scholarship. Out of all the graduating Seniors, I was the only one who really had a chance at that scholarship. But there was one thing missing: papers. My heart was crushed and has been ever since.
After high school I went to college for a year. Wesleyan College, a private school, had given me a scholarship to cover some of the tuition costs and my step-dad agreed to pay what was left. My step-dad is also an illegal immigrant. His job wasn’t steady enough to afford my schooling, so I had to to quit for a year and work to pay off my tuition. As an illegal immigrant it is hard to find a decent job and sometimes you get stuck working for people that underpay you and don’t respect you. That’s why I am thankful for DACA and I can now have a better job and drive without fear. But DACA is only temporary and I still can’t afford paying out-of-state tuition. I also cannot enlist in the military despite having legal presence through deferred action. I also live in fear that my brother will also have to pay the price of being an undocumented student and that my mom or step-dad could get detained for driving with an expired license they can’t renew because NC doesn’t issue licenses to illegal immigrants.
Michelle graduated from Southern Nash High in 2011. Because she’s undocumented, she could not get the Air Force scholarship despite the fact that she met all other requirements.
It has been rough and I’ve had to give up a lot of opportunities due to a lack of “legal status”. But I still have hopes that there will be a silver lining. I am not giving up, and neither should any undocumented youth. We deserve to get an education, to be able to have the job of our choice, and we deserve to have the option of joining the armed forces. But we have to fight for our rights. They’re not just gonna fall from the sky. And that is why I’ve decided to join the NC Dream Team and fight alongside other undocumented youth to improve the situation of our community.
I share my story with you to let you know that you are not alone. But above all to tell you that we must persevere in the face of adversity. I’m a Military DREAMer and my story does not end here.
For Immediate Release
June 11, 2013
Santiago Garcia- Leco
828.559.7993 | santiago@theniya.org
DREAMer Francisco Hernandez Set for Deportation; Community Urges USCIS to Grant DACA
Supporters of Francisco Hernandez (A# 205-210-075) gather to urge United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to grant Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Charlotte. NC— Francisco “Paco” Hernandez, now 23, came to North Carolina from Mexico at the age of 14. He graduated from McDowell High School in 2009 and was attending McDowell Technical Community College when he was taken into immigration custody. Paco filed for Deferred Action, yet he is still being forced to see an immigration judge and could be deported any day.
When: After 1pm Immigration Court Hearing, Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Where: 5701 Executive Center Drive, Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28212
Who: Francisco, family, friends, and community supporters.
On May 13, 2011, Paco was wrongfully arrested. Paco and two friends were coming home from a party where Paco had been drinking. Being responsible, Paco let one of his sober friends, Luis –on leave from the military- drive. On their way home Paco’s car broke down; so all three friends got out to push it and Luis handed Paco the keys. While pushing the car, the police showed up to help the boys but instead (despite the care being completely off and immobile) arrested Paco and charged him with a DUI.
Despite his innocence, Paco was charged and sentenced to 30-months of probation. He didn’t miss a single check-in with his officer. However, at his November 28, 2012 check-in, ICE was waiting for him. Paco was detained and forced to spend nearly 2-months in immigration detention in Georgia Paco was finally released on a $15,000 bond, allowing him to fight his case from the outside. In June of 2013, he applied for DACA, and now we as a community supporting Paco, are asking USCIS to grant his application and help keep his family together.
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The NC DREAM Team is an organization composed of undocumented immigrant youth and allies who are dedicated to the creation of a sustainable, community-led immigrant rights movement in North Carolina. We aim to help undocumented youth recognize their individual and collective power to activate their communities. We will escalate in our efforts to achieve a just reform that is acceptable to–and guided by–the voices of those directly affected by our broken immigration system.
English version:
My name is Enriqueta Martinez. I’ve lived in North Carolina for 1O years and I am undocumented. I have three children who qualify for what is deferred action. I came here in 2003 and got my driver’s license in 2004. I used my license to go to work and pick up my children from school. I will always remember the day I got a call from school because my son had an accident. Without thinking it twice I jumped in the car and drove to the school. On the way to school I got tailed by a cop. Probably because I look Latina, but my license plate said I had a license, so he didn’t even stop me since he knew I was licensed and he could not get away with pulling me over for no reason.
When I finally got to the school I was desperate and just wanted to see my son. The receptionist at the front desk told me she needed to see a state issued ID before I walked inside. Thank God I had my driver’s license.
In 2009 my license expired on my birthday. It was one of the saddest days of my life. I could not even leave my house, I thought that just by going outside a cop out there would be waiting for me. I became depressed, I began to miss work, and I even had to change my schedule to mornings so that my son could pick me up from work.
It’s been 4 years since my license expired and since then I’ve only driven like 7 or 8 times, only for emergencies. And when I got tailed by a cop during those times, I felt like my heart was about to split in two. Really, it’s a feeling I would not wish even on my own enemies. That’s why I decided to write this letter today. I have followed the proposal that will give us our licenses back. And most of all the controversy. I applaud all legislators who are putting their two cents. I’m not stupid, I know there are several things that are wrong, but it’s a start. And it’s not like the bad things are not happening already. I’ve been waiting for this day for four years. I’m tired of living like this and even more tired of listening to all the people against it. Most of them are not even illegal and obviously not in a million years will they be able to stand in my place and feel that desperation. So to them I say thanks but no THANKS. I want my LICENSE and I want it now!
Sincerely,
An undocumented woman
Are you ready?
This year’s celebration will be on July 9th in Washington, DC.
LOCATION: Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20002)
DREAM Graduation will be an especially important moment for our movement this year. As Congress considers comprehensive immigration reform, thousands of people continue to be detained, kept out of reach with their families, and subjected to unjust deportation. As well, same-sex couples are denied equal rights under immigration law, and will likely continue to do so after the passage of whatever proposal ultimately becomes law. We will not allow such critical issues for our community to pass silently away from the public debate. Our movement will continue to fight for them.
Commencement speakers and a full list of activities and sponsors will be released soon. If you have been looking for an opportunity to learn more and get involved in the movement, this is your chance! RSVP here and if you can’t make it, help someone else make it!
by Cinthia Marroquin
Last year in June I traveled to Washington DC for the annual DREAM graduation. The National Immigrant Youth Alliance organized the DREAM Graduation as a way to reflect on the accomplishments of undocumented youth leaders within the last year, and to welcome yet another class of DREAM activists into the movement; and welcome I felt. As each person on stage told his or her story, parts of my story and parts of the stories of other undocumented youth were reflected in their words. Because of their encouragement, I can finally say that I am undocumented. I am unafraid to say so and I am compelled to take action.
I’m writing this post in anticipation of the 2013 Dream Graduation, and the first anniversary of my coming out of the shadows. This movement has become an inspiration to me. It has taught me that in order to generate change at a mass scale, you have to be willing to put yourself out there. My coming out publically with my story has allowed me to be part of this movement which has most importantly redefined the immigrant community itself. Being Undocumented is no longer something that I am ashamed or afraid of.
The Graduation and convening of hundreds of other undocumented people from around the country really opened my eyes and made me realize how privileged I am; so I decided to join this amazing group. In the past 10 months I’ve learned so much from stopping deportations to infiltrations, and it all started at the graduation. You can read about my experience at last year’s graduation here!
This year’s celebration will be on July 9th in Washington, DC.
LOCATION: Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20002
RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BkIsPu9lQ_D7Qu2_anlvDEn9W3TaldhJt7wRhvdjGo8/viewform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 28th, 2013
Contact:
Viridiana Martinez
919-704-0599
Father of 3 US Citizen Children Faces Deportation
The children will hold a vigil to ask for their father’s release
Sanford, NC– Juan Joya Mejia (A#097-951-344) lives in Sanford, North Carolina with his family but was in Pennsylvania looking for work to provide for his family. He was arrested after a neighbor called the police accusing Juan of looking suspicious when he was only playing with a bee bee gun. The police did not arrest him at first, but they came back after and asked him for his immigration status and turned him in to ICE. Juan is now at risk of deportation even though he did nothing wrong. He is currently detained at York County Prison in Pennsylvania and faces imminent deportation.
Juan has severe liver complications and onset heart problems. He needs medication that he cannot access in detention. He is the father of 3 U.S. citizen children who need him home. His wife, Maria, is at high risk for ovarian cancer, and she needs help sustaining their children.
Juan’s friends, wife and three US citizen children will be holding a vigil to ask immigration authorities for his immediate release.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 28th, 2013
TIME: 7PM
WHERE: St. Stephen Catholic Church - 901 N Franklin Dr., Sanford, NC 27330
WHO: Organized by The NC Dream Team as part of the Secure Your Own Community (SYOC) project, where immigrant youth fight to stop the deportation of our peers and community.
Juan was born in El Salvador but came to the United States to escape violent gangs that were trying to recruit him and threatened him when he refused to join them. Juan has been living in the United States since 2003 and has no criminal record. He is a caring and hard-working father.
Juan needs to be released so he can join his family in North Carolina, receive proper medical care and provide for them. He is a low priority for deportation and meets the requirements for favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion under the 2011 Morton Memo.
For more information about Juan, you can visit the online petition: http://action.dreamactivist.org/pennsylvania/juan
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The NC DREAM Team is an organization composed of undocumented immigrant youth and allies who are dedicated to the creation of a sustainable, community-led immigrant rights movement in North Carolina. We aim to help undocumented youth recognize their individual and collective power to activate their communities. We will escalate in our efforts to achieve a just reform that is acceptable to–and guided by–the voices of those directly affected by our broken immigration system.
Location: St. Stephen Catholic Church - 901 N Franklin Dr Sanford, NC 27330
Time: 6 to 8 pm
On Tuesday, May 28th at 6 pm, we will be holding a vigil in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Sanford, NC calling on Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) to release Juan Joya, a day laborer from the area.
RSVP to the facebook event here!
Juan was on a trip to work in Pennsylvania. He was sitting on the steps of a building playing with a bee bee gun when a neighbor called the police. When they arrived, they asked Juan for ID and when he showed the only one he has from his country of El Salvador, he was detained and placed under the custody of ICE. Despite having no criminal record, living in the US for 10 years, and having 3 US citizen children, Juan is facing imminent deportation.
Also, Juan has serious liver and heart problems which he has not been able to receive treatment for. On Tuesday, Juan’s wife and 3 US citizen children – Kegri (6), Madeline (4), Elwin (1) – will be joined by supporters, family members, and clergy to ask for the immediate release of Juan.
WILL YOU BE THERE?
Location: St. Stephen Catholic Church - 901 N Franklin Dr Sanford, NC 27330
Time: 6 to 8 pm
Last Thursday, 6 – year old Luis missed school to make a personal visit to his representative’s office. Luis and his family were on a mission to get support from Congressman George Holding to stop the deportation of his father, Jose Ortiz.
Filled with hope that his representative would hear his plea for help, Luis walked into the office of Congressman Holding. Yet, he received everything but help. Instead of intervening in the case of his daddy, Congressman Holding’s staff ignored Luis. What is captured in the picture above is the representative’s staff talking down to Luis – a US citizen, telling him they will not help his father and he must leave before they call the cops.
Luis and his family left soon after, but Luis’s aunt Mayra (who is a DACA holder) decided to stay to wait for a response from the representative. Refusing to leave, she was arrested. Mayra believes in the power of community and she and Luis and Jose and the rest of the family are going to continue to stand up until Jose’s deportation is stopped.
What you can do to help:
SIGN and share the petition – http://bit.ly/noljosenc
CALL Congressman Holding’s office -
Washington D.C. Office: 202-225-3032
Raleigh Office: 919-782-4400
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m calling to ask that Congressman Holding support Jose Guillermo Ortiz (A# 205-213-818) and stop his deportation set for today. Jose is the sole bread winner for his family that includes three US Citizen children. GOP leaders are working towards comprehensive immigration reform in Washington DC. Rep. Holding has a responsibility to keep this family together. Will he intervene to stop Jose’s deportation today?”
SIGN THE PETITION BY CLICKING HERE!
Does not having a driver’s license merit tearing this family apart? Despite having no criminal record, ICE is planning to deport Jose TODAY!
Can you help Luis, Joselyn, and Gloria keep their Daddy home? Their representative, Congressman George Holding, is their only hope.
Make a call and Sign the petition calling on Rep. Holding to Intervene on behalf of this family!
Call Congressman George Holding:
Washington D.C. Office: 202-225-3032
Raleigh Office: 919-782-4400
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m calling to ask that Congressman Holding support Jose Guillermo Ortiz (A# 205-213-818) and stop his deportation set for today. Jose is the sole bread winner for his family that includes three US Citizen children. GOP leaders are working towards comprehensive immigration reform in Washington DC. Rep. Holding has a responsibility to keep this family together. Will he intervene to stop Jose’s deportation today?”
Remember, the congressman has the power to address a letter to ICE asking to stop the deportation of Jose. He can also make a call to ICE or even issue a private bill to keep this family together.
Let us know what his office tells you! Leave a message on our facebook page or send an email to viridiana@thencdreamteam.org. Thank you for your support!
Location: St Bernadette Catholic Church - 1005 Wilbon Rd, Fuquay-Varina, NC
Time: 6 to 8 pm
Petition: http://bit.ly/noljosenc
The driver’s license issue could not be more obvious than now. Another family is at risk of being torn apart all because North Carolina does not issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
His name is Jose Guillermo Ortiz. He is a father or 3 US citizen kids - Luis (6), Gloria (4), and Joselyn (3). On a morning in May when Jose was on his way to work, he had a minor traffic accident. When the officer who arrived at the scene asked him for his driver’s license and Jose could not provide it, the officer proceeded to arrest him. What should’ve been a simple traffic ticket, turned into Jose ending up under the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Jose had shown the officer his consular ID card with his picture, as it was the only form of ID he had with him. In a racist move, the officer took Jose to the Wake County jail where he knew he would be processed.
Jose was released after a week in jail but had an immigration court date to attend. At his last hearing, Jose Guillermo was not granted favorable prosecutorial discretion like the Morton Memo instructs for immigrants like him. He was forced to take voluntary departure and now faces deportation on May 23rd, in just 8 days!
We need your help to stop Jose’s deportation. If you can attend tonight’s vigil at 6 pm at St Bernadette Catholic Church (1005 Wilbon Rd, Fuquay-Varina, NC), please do. If you can’t make it, however, you can SIGN and SHARE his petition calling on ICE to stop his deportation immediately. No family should be torn apart because the primary breadwinner cannot obtain a driver’s license.
Thank you for your support!
