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Contact:
Jackie Aguilar
Tel: (919) 395-8458
E-mail: jackieaguilar711@gmail.com
NC Youth Lobby for Access to College for Undocumented Students
Raleigh, NC — On Wednesday May 8th, current high school students and recent graduates will visit the NCGA to talk to representatives about HB 904, a proposed piece of legislation that would allow all young people who have graduated from North Carolina high schools and lived in the state for at least two years to pay the in-state tuition rates at our public colleges and universities regardless of immigration status.
Youth are looking for bi-partisan support on HB 904. North Carolina has invested in these youth throughout their primary education and higher education should be accessible to all of our state’s young people. Enabling these students to attend college will strengthen our future tax base by giving these undocumented students the opportunity to move up the economic ladder and become self-sufficient engines of the NC economy.
Marco Cervantes, a 2012 graduate from Chapel-Hill High School says, “We can no longer put a limitation on our possibilities.”
With the inevitability of immigration reform, North Carolina’s leaders should be thinking how best to prepare those immigrants to enter the workforce. Sixty-one percent of all jobs in North Carolina will require at least some college by 2020.
So far 14 states have passed in-state-tuition for undocumented students, lets work together and make North Carolina the 15th state in the nation to give undocumented students the opportunity to get a higher education and a job where they can strengthen the economic growth in NC.
WHERE: NC General Assembly at 16 W. Jones St. Raleigh, NC
WHEN: 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
WHO: Adelante Education Coalition with youth representing NC DREAM Team, Immigrant Youth Forum, Latin American Coalition, and El Cambio.
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Let’s Learn NC is a statewide campaign initiative of the Adelante Education Coalition for college tuition equality. The campaign strives to generate awareness of the current tuition inequality as well as introduce state legislation that will provide in-state tuition to all eligible resident students, regardless of their immigration status. To learn more about the campaign, visit http://www.letslearnnc.org and to learn more about the Adelante Education Coalition, please visit en.adelantenc.org.
The anti immigrant group, NC Listen, made a call today, to all anti immigrant people in North Carolina, to mobilize tomorrow at 10 am at the General Assembly in Raleigh. The topic: HB786, which if approved as law, would grant driving permits to certain undocumented immigrants in our state.
The call to anti-immigrants by Director Ron Woodard states the following:
“The Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly just passed a bill out of the Judiciary committee to give illegal immigrants a driver’s license permit and the bill also guts our earlier E-Verify bill to protect jobs for citizens in North Carolina. I know it’s hard to believe but the state Republicans will make this actual law if we don’t stop them very soon.”
Right wing extremists like Ron Woodard are not putting the safety of North Carolina first. Their anti-immigrant rhetoric doesn’t move us forward. Undocumented immigrants are as much a part of North Carolina and it’s economy as he is.
There are many parts to this bill that are problematic. But things are already bad. Proof of this, are the families and individuals affected by deportation and the way they were put in deportation proceedings. Racism and discrimination already exist. The deportations for something as simple as not having a drivers license already exist. The separation of families by the detention and deportation of immigrants already exist. Immigrants with illnesses without access to to adequate medical care and treatment already exist. Things are already bad. The question is, are we willing to allow things to continue this way? Or do we want change?
We at the NC Dream Team want change and we will negotiate with Democrats and Republicans to achieve it.
One thing we do agree on with anti-immigrant and director of NC Listen, Ron Woodard, is that you should not wait for someone else to change things for you. You and I, undocumented and all, have a voice and have the power to change our situation. Change is in our hands. To start, sign the following petitions and help stop deportations. Today it is them, tomorrow it might be you.
Youth coordinator of Immaculate Conception Church in Durham, Fabiana Palomo, is currently detained in an immigration jail in Georgia. You can find more details about her case in the petition. If the federal government is so committed to immigration reform, why is Fabiana detained? Sign and Call!
SIGN THE PETITION BY CLICKING HERE
Jose Guillermo fell into deportation proceedings after a minor car accident. The police asked for his license and since he didn’t have one, he was arrested and taken to jail. These are the consequences for not being able to obtain a driver’s license. His deportation is set for May 23rd. For him and all the cases that we’re unaware of, we are willing to negotiate with Republicans for driving permits, even if they have restrictions.
El grupo anti-inmigrante NC Listen hizo hoy un llamado a las personas anti-inmigrantes de Carolina del Norte para mobilizarse el dia de mañana a las 10 am en la asamblea general en Raleigh. El tema: La propuesta de ley iniciativa Republicana – HB786 – que, si pasara a ser ley, otorgaria permisos de manejo a ciertos indocumentados en nuestro estado.
El llamado a la comunidad anti-inmigrante de parte del Director Ron Woodard dice lo siguiente:
“Los Republicanos en la Asamblea General de Carolina del Norte estan a punto de pasar una propuesta de ley para dar permisos de manejo que serviran como permisos de trabajo tambien a los inmigrantes ilegales. Se que es dificil de creer pero los Republicanos de nuestro estado van a crear esta ley si no los detenemos pronto.“
“Se que el llamado se esta haciendo a ultima hora pero necesitamos hacerles saber a nuestros representantes en la asamblea general que esto es inaceptable.“
Esto es prueba de que la propuesta de ley HB786 es mas pro-inmigrante que anti-inmigrante. Nosotros sabemos que hay muchas partes de esta propuesta que son problematicas. Pero las cosas ya estan mal. Prueba de esto son las familias e individuos afectados por la deportacion y la forma en que cayeron en procedimiento de deportacion. El racismo y la discriminacion ya existen. Las deportaciones por algo tan simple como manejar sin licencia ya existen. Las familias separadas por la deportacion y detencion de inmigrantes ya existen. Inmigrantes con enfermedades sin acceso a cuidado medico y tratamiento ya existen. Las cosas ya estan mal. La pregunta es, estamos dispuestos a seguir asi? O queremos ver un cambio?
Nosotros si. Y negociaremos con los Democratas y Republicanos para lograrlo.
En algo si estamos de acuerdo con el señor anti-inmigrante y director de NC Listen Ron Woodard y eso es que no debes asumir que alguien mas lo va a hacer por ti, tu tienes voz y tienes poder de cambiar tu situacion.. nuestra situacion. El cambio esta en nuestras manos. Para empezar, firma las siguientes peticiones y ayuda a parar deportaciones. Hoy son ellos, mañana puedes ser tu.
La coordinadora de Jovenes de la Iglesia Inmaculada Concepcion en Durham Fabiana Palomo se encuentra detenida en una carcel de inmigrantes en Georgia. Puedes encontrar mas detalles sobre su caso en la peticion. Si el gobierno federal esta tan comprometido a pasar la reforma migratoria, porque esta detenida Fabiana? Firma y llama!
Jovenes del grupo de Fabiana piden publicamente a inmigracion que sea liberada
FIRMA LA PETICION HACIENDO CLICK AQUI!
Jose Guillermo cayo en procedimientos de deportacion despues de un accidente de trafico menor. El policia le pidio su licencia de manejo y como el no tiene, fue arrestado y llevado a la carcel. Estan son las consecuencias de no poder obtener una licencia de manejo. Su deportacion esta programada para el 23 de Mayo. Por el y por todos los casos de los cualos no nos enteramos, estamos dispuestos a negociar con los Republicanos para los permisos de manejo, aunque tengan restricciones.
Jose Guillermo con su esposa y sus hijos ciudadanos Luis, Gloria, y Joselyn
Despite living in the United States for 14 years and a clean record, soccer Coach Eduardo Salazar (A# 200-717-517) is facing deportation in just FOUR days!
Take action: SIGN the petition and call ICE @ 202-732-3000 or 202-732-3100!
Sample Script: “Hi, I was calling to ask that ICE stop the deportation of Coach Eduardo Salazar (A# 200-717-517). Coach Salazar has been living in the U.S. for over 14 years, coaching soccer and supporting his family. He is a low-priority for deportation. Please don’t deport Coach Salazar!”
Eduardo Salazar is a beloved soccer coach, a boy scouts volunteer, and a loving grandfather. His family needs him here, especially his DACA approved son and granddaughter who is in critical medical condition. Make sure to take 2 minutes to call and sign his petition! Thanks for your support!
Call Wake County Detention Center at (919) 255-7111, Wake County ICE at (919) 255-7200 and DC ICE at 202-732-3000!
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m calling to ask that ICE drop the hold on Fabiana Palomo-Muniz (inmate #1064336). Fabiana is a committed member in her church and has been so for the past six years by coordinating a youth ministry program. She is an asset to this community. Please remove the ICE hold and release her immediately.”
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The Durham community is at risk of losing yet another dedicated member to deportation. Fabiana Palomo Muniz (inmate #1064336) is a devoted and respected community member who has been in the US for the past eight years and has built a life here with her husband. She is involved with her church and for the past six years has coordinated the Latino Youth Ministry Program at Immaculate Inception Catholic church.
Fabiana Palomo-Muniz
Fabiana was on her way to a training for youth facilitators through her church when she got into a minor traffic accident. When police arrived she was ticketed for the accident and for driving without a license. Fabiana then asked for an interpreter and even tried calling friends of hers to help interpret. However, no one was available and so communication with the police was not clear.
Fabiana understood that it was fine for her to leave since she had already been given a ticket. Such was not the case and when she tried to leave police arrested her. She is now at Wake County Detention Center facing charges of resisting a police officer with an ICE hold.
This is a misunderstanding and dedicated community members like Fabiana should not be torn away from their loved ones. It is also important to note that a driver’s license is not an option for Fabiana because the state of North Carolina currently does not allow the undocumented community to apply for one.
Fabiana and her loved ones need your help to get her released! Call ICE at Wake County Detention Center and urge them to drop the ICE hold!
ACT NOW!
Call Wake County Detention Center at (919) 255-7111, Wake County ICE at (919) 255-7200 and DC ICE at 202-732-3000!
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m calling to ask that ICE drop the hold on Fabiana Palomo-Muniz (inmate #1064336). Fabiana is a committed member in her church and has been so for the past six years by coordinating a youth ministry program. She is an asset to this community. Please remove the ICE hold and release her immediately.”
For all media inquiries, contact Jose Torres-Don at (512) 744-8804.
NCDOT announced today DACA licenses will no longer have a pink stripe, will keep “No Lawful Status”
“No Lawful Status” with “Legal Presence”? Regular license instead of pink license? None of that matters because we are no longer afraid!
by Jose Torres-Don
As an undocumented DACA eligible youth I welcome this license as an opportunity. For us it has not been about what color our drivers licenses are. The truth is that our fight for the DACA drivers licenses has been more about empowerment in our everyday lives to take control of who we are and not let anyone tell us what our place is or is not.
We are taking these licenses knowing that the biggest and most important battle is the one in our head that leads us to our own individual liberation independent of politicians, policies (or lack of), anti-immigrant groups and anything and anyone in between.
Ultimately our perseverance comes from knowing that we are valuable and that no matter how negative the anti-immigrant rhetoric is, we are human beings and we will no longer engage in the dehumanizing process of living in the “shadows”…something that politicians on both sides of the aisle have advanced. We do not need a specific color on a license to tell us, and the rest of North Carolina, who we are. We are undocumented, we are no longer afraid and do not wish to hide that neither by being silent nor by being issued a regular license.
We seek to drive without fear, to challenge the idea that we should remain in the shadows and to challenge the idea that this is about an “us” vs “them”. Instead, we want to have a real and honest conversation about how being undocumented is a problem and how we can find equitable and reasonable solutions that work for North Carolina. We look forward to having a bigger conversation about the enlightened self-interest for people in public office to not be bullied by radical anti-immigrant groups and instead see the value in moving North Carolina forward that is inclusive of the Hispanic community. We cannot promise the “hispanic vote”, we won’t promise that to any party, however, the national leadership of the GOP has signaled where the starting line is for Republicans of reasonable minds. It starts with seeing the value of the opportunity over the issue of immigration and proactively bidding for a broader base.
Hello! My name is Alejandra. I live in Liberty, NC. I’m 18 years old and I am undocumented.
I was brought to this country when I was only 13 months old. I’ve been here basically all my life and now I have the chance to help my family! My mom has been driving without a driver’s license since 2007. In these past six years, she hasn’t been able to go out anywhere without being afraid of getting pulled over. She’s gotten pulled over twice already. But what can she do? She has to work in order for us to eat and she can’t be looking for a ride all the time. Everyone has their own life and we can’t always be looking for people to take us places.
This is why I can’t wait to get my pink license! I don’t like the idea that everyone who I show my driver’s license to will know my immigration status. The truth is I’m tired though. I’m tired of hiding that I am undocumented. My immigration status does not determine my worth. As of March 25th, I too will drive without fear! I wont be scared when a cop pulls up behind me on my my way to work, afraid he’ll check my plate to find that I’ve been previously pulled over for no driver’s license . More importantly, I’ll be able to drive my mom where she needs to go. Pink stripe or no pink stripe, I’m ready for my driver’s license!
Viridiana is in JROTC at Enloe High. Her dream is to join the Navy.
I’m undocumented: my parents brought me, my brother, and my sister to the United States when I was only 7 years old. We were looking for a better life. I remember when we first got here I was very excited about learning a new language but more than anything to see my father again.
The excitement only lasted a couple of years though because around when I turned 10, we stopped going out. You know, the things all families do: dine out or go to the mall or take trips to the beach. It was all because my father’s driver’s license had expired and we couldn’t risk driving around because he could get pulled over at any time. My mother lost her job and wasn’t able to get a new one because she doesn’t have a social security number – she’s also undocumented. Soon my brother and sister graduated from high school, but they couldn’t keep on with their education because they were undocumented as well.
Little by little, I realized what having “no lawful status” means. My plans, my dreams of joining the army or becoming a psychologist were fading away because I knew there was no way of moving forward with my life and going to college is going to be almost impossible. It seemed as if, as soon as I got out of high school, I would be stuck flipping burgers for the rest of my illegal life. I used this as an excuse for not doing well in school. In fact, going to school became pointless for me and I’m pretty sure for many others like me too. We don’t drop out because we don’t want to be in school. We give up because we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This is my last year of high school and I thank God for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Now after high school, just like my other friends with papers, I will have the luxury of several job options. I look forward to attending college or joining the Navy and obtaining a driver’s license. My senior year has been totally different from what I expected it to be: I have joined the JROTC program at Enloe High! I have better grades in my classes because I now look forward to a better future.
Viridiana at the We Need Our License Back rally at the NCDOT.
There is, however, one part of the licenses we’re going to be issued that I don’t really like. The North Carolina DMV has decided to mark the licenses of DACA beneficiaries with a pink stripe on top and other unnecessary labels that make our licenses look different from the rest. I think this difference will only create situations that will often lead to ethnic prejudice every time we need to show our licenses. It’s possible that the authorities will use our distinctive license against us.
Although my license will be looking different from those of my friends, I am still very thankful that I’ll be able to drive legally in North Carolina, and not only me but my siblings too. This license will make the state of North Carolina safer by letting us drive legally and authorized. To me the color and “No Lawful Status” label added to the license won’t stop me from getting one; they could even make our licenses triangle shaped, rainbow colored or any other thing to mark a difference between us and those with papers. As long as I can drive, work, go to college and accomplish my goals legally in this state, that is what matters.
Ungrateful? No. I’d say I’m realistic. I have decided I will not be getting a pink license. This decision has not only surprised my friends but also my family. I understand that by not getting one not only will it affect me but also them. The truth is I have been discriminated against for the past thirteen years that I’ve lived in this country. I’m sick and tired of it. On March 25th, I plan to come out publicly about my immigration status because I refuse to be further discriminated, but more importantly because I refuse to continue to live in the shadows and afraid. I will continue to drive without a license and I will do so without fear.
Monserrat at Securing Our Own Families Training
I thank my friends, family, teammates and all of those who supported us the dreamers back in January when we were fighting to get our license. I was one of those who were at the rallies, demanding equal rights. I never thought that we would be issued licences that brand us and single us out in red letters: “No Lawful Status”. Why not “Legal Presence” instead? After all, we do hold legal presence.
I’ve been in this country for thirteen years. I’ve missed my grandparents’ birthdays and their funerals. I’ve missed Mexico too. I’ve been asked before why I don’t just go back. I don’t go back because I’m not giving up. I have dreams and goals I want to achieve. Also, my family is here. But living in the US has not been easy. Fourth grade was hard – I got bullied because I speak English with an accent. In middle school, the problem was my skin color. And in high school.. well that’s when I realized what it means to be illegal. It was during junior and senior year that I understood everything perfectly. Not only was my skin color the problem, but also my immigration status. Senior year, while everyone was filling out their college applications, a classmate who was also illegal and I were the only ones not doing it. Not because we didn’t want to but because we couldn’t. I will never forget what I felt during that time.
Monserrat at the We Want Our License Rally at the NCDOT
We all have decisions to make and I know that at the end of the day a license is a license, and boy do I need it. But.. no, thank you. I have decided not to get a pink license because I refuse to allow anyone else to single me out, bully me, or make me feel less human and less of a person because of my immigration status. This will not keep me from driving, however. I will be driving without fear!
As part of the NC Dream Team, I believe in the power of organizing. I believe in the power of my community to stand up and fight back. Whether you have to get a pink license or you choose not to, I encourage you to DROP THE FEAR. What matters is that we drop the fear of ICE or the police and acknowledge the power we have as a community to fight back. On March 25th, I am driving without fear. Will you be there? Will you drop the fear?
What: Driving Without Fear / Manejando Sin Miedo Rally
Where: DMV on 2431 Spring Forest Road, North Raleigh, NC, 27615
Time: 3 pm
Next Monday DMVs across North Carolina will be re-issuing drivers
licenses to DACA youth. The pink striped licenses that will be issued
to us have been bashed as discriminatory and getting one may even be seen by some as being complicit in the government’s signaling out of undocumented people. I’ve been in conversations in which documented people look at me as if they want to save me… they are outraged that this is happening and some have even apologized for the outright discrimination the state is engaged in. The funny thing about that is that I’m not outraged…not at all. I’ve already won this battle. In fact, I won it back in 2010 when I declared myself to be undocumented and unafraid. All I need now is a license that forces the government to acknowledge me and my position as an undocumented person who refuses to be afraid and live in the shadows. A regular license would not accomplish that so thank you, North Carolina!
We’re on the same page. This has been more about dropping the fear than anything else.
The truth is that the alternative to a pink striped license came close
to being nothing at all. I’m going to check my privilege here because
the fact is that throughout the period that I have this license I will
have deferred action and that means I won’t be deported. Even if I
decided to not get a license, I would still not be risking the same
thing by driving without a license because deportation would be off
the table…even if only temporarily. There are others in my community that don’t have this privilege. My parents and older brothers and sisters certainly don’t. Having a drivers license in the family will be good no matter what color the license is. For me to not get one or to get caught up in picking a fight about how discriminatory this license will be is closing the door on an opportunity to open a conversation about drivers licenses for all undocumented people.
Again, the color that it comes in is secondary to the goal of empowerment that allows us to take this licenses and force them to be on our terms with an added level of accountability for the
discrimination that will happen no matter what.
At the NC DREAM Team we may have different opinions and some of us will get one of these licenses and others of us will decide not to.
The bottom line, though, is that we will drive without fear.
As the NC DREAM Team our priority is to help undocumented youth
recognize our individual and collective power. We seek to activate our communities and escalate in our efforts. We are guided by the voices of those directly affected:
· We welcome these licenses as an opportunity for some of us to have
an option that we did not have before.
· We are not safer with a regular license because discrimination still
happens on the basis of our skin color and the perceived immigration
status. At the end of the day we are still subject to deportation and harassment from law enforcement no matter what kind of license we get issued.
· Undocumented youth in North Carolina have been coming out as
undocumented, unafraid and unashamed since 2010. We will not allow a pink stripe to re-instate the shame that we gave up feeling with the empowerment of our community.
We aim to be empowered to get a pink striped license and take it as an opportunity to be undocumented and unafraid because we know how to fight back. If you are undocumented and were previously issued a regular license then go ahead and put that pink tape on your drivers license! You are undocumented. No need to hide it. Be empowered by it!
We are taking these licenses and engaging in this fight knowing that
the biggest and most important battle is the one in our head that
leads us to our own individual liberation independent of politicians,
policies, anti-immigrant groups, allies, the non-profit industrial
complex and anything and anyone in between.
Join us on March 25th at 3:30pm at the DMV at 2431 Spring Forest Road North Raleigh, Unit 101, NC 27615. We will rally to declare that we will drive without fear!
