08/21/12 “Where are you from?” This is a question that has become increasingly difficult to answer as I get older. Growing up in Miami, I was “la peruana” or “la peruanita” — labels that delineated and affirmed my Peruvian identity. Although I did not know too many Peruvians (I was surrounded by many when compared to [...]
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08/20/12 Right after I heard the Obama Administration’s deferred action guidelines, I went to the FAQ section on the USCIS website and searched for the word “travel.” As happy as I am about the fact that I will now be able to work and contribute to this country, I was most looking forward to learning about [...]
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08/09/12 Read here the analysis by Maribel Hastings about the pro-Romney Spanish-language ad directed to Latino voters of Nevada that targets the Obama administration’s record number of deportations. Here’s an excerpt (in Spanish): “Disfruto de los refranes porque no hay mejor análisis que la sabiduría popular. Al ver el anuncio en español No más Mentiras dirigido [...]
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08/07/12 Today was the launch of United We DREAM’s (UWD) national “We Own the DREAM/¡Unete Al Sueño!” campaign. UWD, along with national allies, held a press conference at the American Immigration Lawyers Association to discuss the new guidelines for deferred action and to assist eligible aspiring citizens with the application process. The campaign will join the resources [...]
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08/03/12 Cross-Posted at Sojourners:  As many as 1.4 million undocumented immigrant youth— aka “DREAMers” — would qualify for temporary work permits and be shielded from deportation once President Obama’s DREAMer relief goes into effect August 15. I am one of these DREAMers. I came to this country from Peru when I was five years old. While I miss my homeland, [...]
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07/31/12 With the national conventions of both parties on the horizon, the countdown for the November 6 election begins. This means that it is also time to mobilize Latino voters. What will the candidates do? Read here the Spanish-language analysis by Maribel Hastings.
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07/30/12 “No papers, no fear.” That is the slogan that is driving (so to speak) a group of undocumented immigrants and allies of different ages from Arizona to cities where there is heated anti-immigrant sentiment. The group is calling out the injustices toward immigrants that have been taking place throughout the country, especially in states where there [...]
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07/20/12 Today, United We Dream (UWD), the largest network of immigrant-youth led organizations in the country, announced its campaign to educate 500,000 DREAMers on Obama’s relief policy. They spoke about their plan to educate their communities about the process, the guidelines and documents needed; as well as warned the community of potential notario and other types [...]
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07/18/12 Recently, I wrote about the psychological effects of being undocumented. Now, I wanted to know what other DREAMers were doing to create spaces where undocumented and undocuqueer folk could talk about their experiences. I was led to Imelda Plascencia, who, with the help of the DREAM Resource Center, created a counseling group for DREAMers called [...]
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07/18/12 DREAMers, without a doubt, have transformed the immigrant movement in the U.S. The announcement that they will soon be able to obtain work permits will not only have implications in their own struggle for legalization but also in their role as leaders in the fight for the legalization of their parents and the rest of [...]
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07/10/12 The figures showing Latino support for Mitt Romney are abysmal; and his proposals, especially those pertaining to immigration, are not clear. His absence at the annual conference of the leading Latino organization in the country, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), in a state like Nevada, where the Latino vote will be crucial in the [...]
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07/06/12 Cross-Posted at The Sanctuary: How does someone go from being perceived as an asset to this country to someone who is quickly disposable? This is the question I ask myself in light of journalist Mario Guevara’s case and following José Antonio Vargas’ coming out as undocumented last year. Technically, Guevara is now undocumented. He came [...]
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06/29/12 Cross-Posted at The Sanctuary: President Barack Obama’s announcement on June 15, 2012 granting deferred action for eligible undocumented youth has lifted DREAMers’ hopes about their ability to obtain work permits and removed the fear of deportation. However, with the excitement comes the need to do whatever it takes to start the application process as soon [...]
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06/28/12 During the closing remarks of the DREAM Act mock graduation ceremony on June 26, 2012, I heard for the first time a real emphasis on the mental health concerns of DREAMers. The student delivering the remarks spoke about Yanelli Serrano Hernandez, an undocumented youth who attempted suicide while being held in a detention center, and [...]
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