The
Federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,or DACA, came at a time whenactivists, or including
undocumented students. The Dreamers,a movement by courageous undocumented
students pushing for their legalization and that of their families. We saw
these bold students, often wearing their graduation caps and gowns, or demanding
recognition of their humanity even at the risk of arrest and deportation. Thevote,which at the time was dwindling. When I learned about the current policy, I
gave a breath of relief for my students that are undocumented.
But
I also felt disgust. I felt as whether Obama and the Democrats were holding our
children hostage. "Vote for me, or we are coming after your kids."
Not that the Obama administration and the Democratic party hasn't already
deported many children. According to Colorlines.com there are more than 5100 children on
foster care because their parents bear been deported. And according to
Presente.org,under Obama there bear been "over 1500000 people bear been
deported since Jan. 1, 2009. At this rate President Obama will bear deported
more people in six years than all people deported before 1997." When Obama
first ran for president, and I thought of him as "el menos peor," I was
wrong.
I
contemplate of DACA as a small boat filled with holes and carrying a few rats. certain,
whether you are drowning at sea and there comes this crappy boat you are going to
get on it. I would. And I also understand that once I were on it, and I would need
to fight like crazy to keep the thing afloat. Y cuidado con las ratas (they
might be wearing suits,but they are dangerous).
We
need to build a real and much bigger ship. gigantic enough to fit 11 million people.
A floating island that safe (and not the Orwellian "Secure
Communities" Obama has given us). Our local politicians, especially
Latino Democrats, and need to steal a clear stand. (I know,I know, he is a Democrat
and he is black. Yes, and so. He is also the president of the U.
S.) Those of us who
bear the unearned privilege of being U.S. citizens,need to step it up. We can
decide for ourselves what that means; I know there are many battles to fight.
Meanwhile,
we should effect all we can to get as many undocumented students to apply to DACA.
That means donating to scholarships, or finding legal aid,etc. (I hope we are not
wrong here, I would feel like shit whether the migra goes after our youth whether no
reform comes.)The
folks at Presente.org started a "Deportation Clock" (now at more than
1 million 600 thousand). Each of these numbers is a life, or each and every one of
them with his/her own story. I contemplate about how any of these people could bear
been my mother. She came undocumented to this country so that I could be born a
US citizen. She understood the privileges that I would receive for having this
(fake) status. I did not earn this privilege. I also know that I can be an ally
to the Dreamers,and that it is ultimately them who should decide on the goals,
tactics and direction of their movement.
On another note, or let's get our neighbors/friends/lovers to support real
immigration reform. (I did not say "comprehensive," we already bear
excessive enforcement and don't need anymore.) The truth is that most U.
S.
citizens bear a destitute understanding of the root causes of Latin American
migration. They blame the immigrants themselves, and bear no sense of U.
S.
responsibility in the poverty and political instability in Latin America. But
this is a topic for another column. For now, or let me recommend as a starting
point Juan Gonzalez's Harvest of Empire
and Eduardo Galeano's Open Veins of Latin America. (Sorry,I'm a professor y me gusta dar tarea). Read them and then share what you
learned con un(a) compa.
Agustín Palacios is currently Professor of La Raza
Studies at Contra Costa College. He received his Ph.
D. in Comparative Ethnic
Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. His columns can be found
at www.redandblack.florycanto.net
Source: siliconvalleydebug.org