UndocuHealth: a new Hotline for DREAMers

From CNN:

Joaquin Luna was only 18. The senior at Juarez Lincoln High School in Mission, Texas, dreamed of going to college. But since he was in the country illegally, that was nearly impossible. Luna was quickly losing hope of ever going to college, his family says. The Friday after Thanksgiving, Luna put on a suit, kissed his family members, went into the bathroom and shot himself in the head, according to family members. "He didn't see no other way or no other option," his brother Diyra Mendoza told CNN affiliate KGBT.

Senator Dick Durbin gave a moving tribute to Joaquin on the Senate floor.



Sadly, this story continues. I grabbed this from a petition that I signed, on behalf of another DREAMer:

Twenty two year-old Yanelli Hernadez Serrano came to the United States when she was only 13 years old. Since that age, she has largely been independent and has had to work in order to sustain herself. Yanelli is currently facing deportation because she showed a police officer her consulate I.D. card as a form of identification, as she lacked a driver's license. While in detention, Yanelli lost hope and attempted to take her life twice.

After attempting suicide she was placed in solitary confinement, naked but for a blanket, and was given prozac. Despite the efforts of concerned persons, Yanelli was deported to Mexico on January 31.

In Yanelli's honor UndocuHealth.org was launched that very same day. UndocuHealth is a project that will provide undocumented youth with mental health support - whether it be connecting the youth with free resources or providing them with access to someone to talk to. The UndocuHealth Crisis Line will be a toll-free, bi-lingual hotline that anyone can call, at anytime to talk to a live person. The organizers are planning to offer services in languages beyond English and Spanish.

UndocuHealth is seeking donations so that they can train the volunteers who will be answering the telephone calls. I can't remember ever posting a fundraising plea on my blog, but will you consider making a financial contribution to support this program? To stay current follow UndocuHealth on Twitter.

While I'm promoting financial contributions, I was so relieved to hear that fifteen-year old Lidiane Carmo, whose family was killed in a tragic Florida vehicle accident, will not be deported to Brazil or charged by US Immigration authorities. She does, however need financial aid to pay her hospital bills, bring her family members' bodies back home, and to hold a funeral.

United We Dream National Congress 2011

Fri March 4 @ 6pm EST to Sun March 6 @ 7pm EST in Memphis, TN. More details here.

United We Dream National Congress 2011 Agenda:
1. Achieve a unified sense of direction for our movement going forward.
2. Establish our own philosophy and principles.
3. Gain concrete tools to help us organize in our states.
4. Build on the courage, dedication and leadership of the past year to launch 2011-12 campaigns.

You may say I'm a Dreamer, but I'm not the Only One.

I was watching the House floor live stream all day today, waiting for the House to take up the DREAM Act. I didn't get to see every speech, but this one really made me smile.



Another stand-out floor speech:



Thank you, Congressman Howard Berman, Congressman Luis Gutierrez and every single representative that voted for the DREAM Act today. Thank you, too to every single Congressional Staffer who made this happen. I am so thankful. The DREAM Act passed the US House of Representatives 216 to 198. This means that I have 216 "thank you" phone calls to make, tomorrow.

Now the Senate needs to pass it, and then President Obama can sign it into law! I heard that the Senate may take it up tomorrow.

DREAM Act - before the House of Representatives votes tomorrow ...

Just received this from Campus Progress:

The House of Representatives will vote on the DREAM Act tomorrow (Friday). There are a few more offices that need to hear from you. See below's list.

If your representative happens to be on this list, then please call your representative first. Then go down the list and call all of the representatives.

If your representative is not on this list, then please just go down the list and start making phone calls.

To reach the offices, call 1-866-587-3023 and ask the operator to transfer you to the representative that you are trying to reach.

Give the following message to the member's office: Invest in America's military, economic and academic future. Vote yes on the DREAM Act.

Adler, John NJ-03
Arcuri, Michael NY-24
Baird, Brian WA-3
Barrow, John GA-12
Bishop, Sanford GA-02
Boccieri, John OH-16
Boucher, Rick VA-09
Boyd, Allen FL-02
Chandler, Ben KY-06
Cooper, Jim TN-05
Dahlkemper, Kathy PA-03
Deutch, Ted FL-19
Ellsworth, Brad IN-08
Hall, John NY-19
Herseth-Sandlin, Stephanie SD-AL
Higgins, Brian NY-27
Holden, Tim PA-17
Kirkpatrick, Ann AZ-01
Kissell, Larry NC-08
Marshall, Jim GA-08
Matheson, Jim UT-02
Michaud, Michael ME-02
Miller, Brad NC-13
Mollohan, Alan WV-01
Murphy, Scott NY-20
Nye, Glenn VA-02
Owens, Bill NY-23
Peters, Gary MI-09
Ross, Mike AR-04
Ryan, Tim OH-17
Schrader, Kurt OR-05
Scott, David GA-13
Shuler, Heath NC-11
Space, Zach OH-18
Spratt, John SC-05
Stupak, Bart MI-01
Tanner, John TN-8
Visclosky, Peter IN-01
Wilson, Charlie OH-06

As the hours pass and this blog post grows more outdated, I encourage you to go here for newer news:)

DREAM Act - this week!!

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The Senate is now likely to vote on the DREAM Act early next week, but the House of Representatives is likely to vote on it this week. Please take action today!
__________________________________________________________


This is it, DREAM Act supporters! Just this afternoon, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took the necessary steps to bring the DREAM Act to the floor of the US Senate. The DREAM Act will likely come to vote this Thursday or Friday.

This means that it's crunch time! We have to make sure that our voices are heard before the senators vote on the bill. I joined in on a White House-led conference call this afternoon for DREAM Act supporters. We need 60 votes, and have at least 50. I learned that there are seven Republicans who have voted for the DREAM Act in 2007, who have not indicated how they will vote this time.

We need to call them. Often. You, and everyone you know.

If you live in one of the following states, then please call:
Indiana - Senator Dick Lugar - (202) 224-4814
Kansas - Senator Sam Brownback - (202) 224-6521
Utah - Senator Bob Bennett - (202) 224-5444
Utah - Senator Orrin Hatch - (202) 224-5251
Texas - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison - 202-224-5922
Maine - Senator Olympia Snowe - (202) 224-5344
Maine - Senator Sue Collins - (202) 224-2523

If you do not live in one of these states then please call your senator anyway, to let them know that Americans support the DREAM Act. You can use the US Congress switchboard phone number; just tell the operator who answers the phone who your US Senators are, and you will be transferred to one of their offices. 202-224-3121.

Also, check out this "take action" tool, and add your name to this Change.org petition.

I joined in on another DREAM Act call this morning. This one had been organized by a coalition of student, labor and immigration reform organizations. The coalition announced that they have made a six-figure media buy, to put this PSA on the radio in targeted states - Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Texas. Awesome!

In English:


In Spanish:


I can't wait to see the DREAM Act debate on the US Senate floor! For the latest news I recommend these Facebook pages: DNC Youth Council, DREAM Act 2010, Voto Latino, and United We Win.

DREAM Act update from the White House

I missed part of yesterday's White House live stream with Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Munoz. I love that the entire session was archived:



More "stuff" from the White House Office of Public Engagement, here. This reminds me - I have been meaning to watch this video of Obama's meeting with Young African Leaders for ages, now:)

To find out about upcoming White House live streams go here.

Help Pass the DREAM Act. Join the Field Team &/or the Digital Activist Team.

The first thing that you can to do help is make sure that your voter registration is up to date. (Have you moved since the last time you voted? Changed your name?) If you need to register for the first time or update your voter registration info, or check to see if you are registered properly, then go here.

If you are already registered to vote, or if you are ineligible to vote this year, then:

Join the Digital Activist Team. Info here.

Join the Field Campaign. To do so, text "Vote4Me" to 30644. You will start receiving updates from the campaign about engagement opportunities, and breaking news.

Make sure to "like" the campaign on Facebook, to stay current & engaged in the campaign.

Lauren & Ellie are back ...

Ah, I love Lauren & Ellie! I cannot even begin to explain how much I love what they've been doing:

This is their third video in a matter of ten days. Here's my blog post about their first video, and my blog post about their second.

Now, in light of the Senate's failure to proceed to a vote on the Department of Defense Authorization Bill (and a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, plus the DREAM Act & a bunch of other things) they put out this one ...

David Cho: We Will Not Give Up.

This is just NOT RIGHT. Pass the DREAM Act.

This past summer UCLA student David Cho won the Campus Progress and Huffpost College National Keynote contest, and addressed The Campus Progress National Conference:



David was also recently named one of The Huffington Post’s Game Changers of 2010.

Help pass the DREAM Act in the US Senate! Now's our chance!

On Tuesday Senator Reid announced that he'll put the DREAM Act up for a vote in the US Senate as early as next week. It'll be an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill.

SO EXCITING! But now it's time to get to work, to make sure it passes!

Earlier today, DREAM Act advocates from the United States Student Association, United We DREAM, Reform Immigration for America, Center for American Progress, and One America held a press conference at the Center for Community Change in order to urge the US Senate to pass the bill.



I took this from a write up about the event. I can't read it without crying:

Felipe Matos, who walked 1,500 miles on the Trail of DREAMs told his own story of being born into dire poverty in Brazil. When his mother got sick, the only way forward for her son was to send him to the United States.

When I arrived in Miami, my family here told me that I could achieve my dreams if I worked hard enough. And I took that to heart. That’s why I walked 1,500 miles – in WINTER! I’m from Miami, and I don’t know anything about how to handle the winter! But I walked. And I fought. And I did it because I love this country. I did it so that people could see us and know that we are human beings.

You can help!

* Call both of your Senators at 1-888-254-5087 and tell them to support the DREAM Act amendment:

“Hi I am calling to ask that Senator _______ vote in favor of the DREAM Act. This bill will allow for thousands of undocumented youth to fix their status by getting a two year college degree or joining the military. This is an investment in our country's future. Support the DREAM Act.”

* Take literally 10 seconds to send both of your Senators an email with the same message, here.

* Lastly, write a letter to your local newspaper's editor, here.

Thanks for your help.

"Rogue Cities" like San Francisco? Words from our likely Republican Candidate for Governor

I could not believe my ears when I heard this spot being broadcast from a Bay Area radio station the other morning.

In Memory of DREAM Act Student Leaders Tam & Cinthya

Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix Perez, two UCLA alumni and leaders of the student movement on immigration, were tragically killed in an auto accident on May 15. A Ford pick-up driven by 23 yr old Jon Dow crossed the center line of Maine’s Route 3 and struck the vehicle driven by one of Tam and Cinthya's friends. At their time of death Tam, UCLA '06, was 27 yrs old, and Cinthya, UCLA '07, was 26.

"By all accounts, Tam Tran and Cinthya Felix Perez were outstanding students and beloved leaders who touched many lives with their courage, passion and intellect," said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block in a statement earlier today. "As undocumented immigrant students, they surmounted exceptional hurdles to earn their UCLA degrees, and together with others in a tight-knit community dedicated themselves to helping others in similar circumstances."


photo: Cinthya

Under California's AB 540 legislation, enacted in 2001, undocumented immigrant students are eligible to pay student fees as California residents; however, they are not eligible to receive financial aid or any scholarship funds donated directly to UCLA. Most of the approximately 200 undocumented immigrant students at UCLA are from poor families.

While undergrads, Tam and Cinthya were leaders of UCLA's student club IDEAS (Improving Dreams Equality Access and Success). Tam was a filmmaker, and made films like this one ...



Tam also testified before Congress in 2007, advocating on behalf of the DREAM Act. You can read her testimony here. Two days after her appearance before Congress, the INS tried to detain Tam's family.


photo: Tam

When Tam and Cynthia died, they were both in grad school. Tam was at Brown, in her second year of a Ph.D program in American Civilization. In 2008 she had helped found the Brown Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. Cinthya was at Columbia, finishing her second year in Public Health and on her way to medical school. Cinthya was the first undocumented student to attend Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health.

On Monday, May 17, the UCLA community held a memorial service, with more than 500 people in attendance. Brown held one for Tam on Wednesday evening, April 19 in the Manning Chapel on campus. The university invited both her mother and brother to attend as well as faculty, fellow students, local activists in the Immigration Rights movement, and innumerable friends.

In addition to caring and providing for Cinthya’s three siblings, Cynthia’s parents are struggling financially to cover the costs of the funeral services, including bringing their daughter back to California. Tam is survived by her parents and her younger brother, Lolly, and appreciate any and all support available. If you can help them out then visit their memorial page for more info.

Immigration Rally ends with the arrest of a US Congressman

In follow up to my April 26 post about the Trail of Dreams ...

On May 1 approx 35 immigrant advocates, including a nun and Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and many young people were handcuffed and arrested at the Immigration Reform Rally in front of the White House.



More info about the DC Rally here.

More info about the rallies that took place around the USA on May 1 here.




To thank Rep Guiterrez call his Capitol Hill office at 202-225-8203 and leave a message for him with the staffer who answers the phone. I just did.

Trail of DREAMs from Miami to DC :: Week of Events in DC underway

The Trail of DREAMs is a group of four brave students who are currently walking from Miami, FL to Washington, DC to raise awareness about the impacts of immigration laws on undocumented young people that have grown up in the United States, and the impact on the families that have been torn apart by immigration detention and deportation.



Along the way they have held events and met with different communities, and bravely confronted anti-immigrant sheriffs and even the KKK. They have played a major role in reinvigorating the movement for immigration reform, which has been called one of the most important civil rights issue of our generation.

They are finally arriving in DC on May 1st for a major rally in support of students that would benefit from the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, a bi-partisan piece of legislation that would allow qualifying youth access to higher education. The rally begins at 9am at the Tenants and Workers United Offices at 3801 Mt. Vernon Ave in Alexandria, VA and concludes with a 2pm Rally for Immigrant Rights at Lafayette Park in front of the White House.

The Rally wraps up a week full of related events, which started today. Check out the listing of all of the events here.

Young people are invited to participate in Lobby Day on Capitol Hill this Thursday. To register go here.

One Step Towards Immigration Reform - Higher Education for Undocumented Students

WOW. This is crazy. From the United States Student Association's DREAM Act summary:

Even though [undocumented students] were brought to the U.S. as children, they face unique barriers to higher education. For example, even if they are able to enroll in college, undocumented students pay out-of-state tuition rates in most of their home states. Undocumented students are also unable to receive state financial aid in most states and are ineligible for federal loans or other federal aid. On top of the circumstances that make college much less affordable for undocumented students, their respective status also prevents them from legally working to pay for college. Their lack of proper documentation, such as a driver's license or even a social security number, can hinder them from filling out college and job applications.

The United States Student Association just wrapped up their annual Grassroots Legislative Conference and National Student Lobby Day in Washington, DC where students rallied on Capitol Hill to demand that higher education in our nation must be affordable and accessible to all.

On May 22 USSA, with support from the AFL-CIO, NEA, AFT, organized a press conference to announce the labor movement's support for the DREAM Act, as part of an effort to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Check out some moving footage from the press conference, held at the AFL-CIO Headquarters -



Support the DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act would:
* Repeal a measure that financially penalizes states for providing in-state tuition to their resident undocumented students, allowing more states to make college more affordable.

* Make students eligible for federal loans and work study upon adjustment of their legal status.

* Provide a pathway to citizenship by giving students conditional legal status for 6 years. Legal status becomes permanent once 1 of the following requirements is met:
- Receive a 2 or 4 year degree from a higher education institution, or must have maintained good academic standing for at least 2 years while wokring towards a bachelors degree or highers.
- Serve in the U.S. military for 2 years.

To find out how you can help, go here.


photo: Maria (on right) and her sister

This subject matters to me because in early 2006 I interned for US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Democratic Communications Center, located in the US Capitol Building. (Yeah, sweet spot!) One of my fellow interns was Maria Parra-Sandoval, then a top student at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. While I knew that Maria was not a US citizen and that she had entered the US illegally when she was little, Maria never talked about these financial barriers to higher education.

This is craziness. I don't know what else to say.

PS - I just googled Maria, and found this 2008 article indicating that she's now a US citizen:)