Wednesday, Aug. 15, was the first day that 21-year-old Josue Saldivar and more than 1 million other young, undocumented immigrants could apply for work permits and temporary protection from deportation. In June, President Obama announced the deferred-action policy as a stop-gap measure while the DREAM Act, which would provide conditional legal status to undocumented students and U.S. military personnel, is stalled in Congress. Locally, the group Undocumented Youth in Action is organizing forums to help DREAMers like Saldivar file deferred-action applications. The group is looking for lawyers to help out. For more information, email activismfordreamers@gmail.com.
What’s Undocumented Youth in Action?
Our main purpose for the coming weeks or months is to establish and implement community forums throughout the community so eligible individuals can apply for deferred action. Now we’re doing outreach to try to partner and collaborate with organizations to make that happen.
What is needed?
You have to provide a birth certificate, provide English translation of the birth certificate, some identification, school records, rental agreements, transcripts and any awards you’ve received. You need to prove you’ve been here for the past five years continuously.
What is the age range for those eligible for deferred action?
You have to be between 15 and 30, and you have to have entered the U.S. before the age of 16. They have said they would allow short, brief travel outside of the U.S., but they haven’t dictated what that looks like. One month? Two days?
Why is this issue important to you?
I came into the U.S. when I was 8 years old. At that age, I knew I was going into a new country, and I realized I wasn’t born here. But it wasn’t until high school that it was an issue. I was a 4.0 student and involved in many clubs in my high school. That I would be unable to go to the university and get scholarships based on my hard work didn’t seem possible. But since high school, I became somewhat of an activist in my community.
Have you been able to continue your education?
Due to my involvement, I have been able to get some scholarships, and fortunately, I have been able to continue my education. There are resources out there, but not a lot of undocumented students know of these resources. They become unmotivated, and some think the only way out is to go back to their country of origin. But we have worked to let students know there are opportunities and resources to go to school.
What do you think of Gov. Jan Brewer’s order to prevent DREAMers from getting driver’s licenses?
I am not surprised. We have seen many attacks on our community, and this is just another one. We saw it with SB 1070, HB 2281, Joe Arpaio and Russell Pearce.
What’s next?
Right now, nothing is set in stone, but we want to establish a relationship with lawyers. We want and need lawyers involved in our community forums to provide legal advice. … Sometimes, it might be better not to apply.
When might it be better to not apply?
In the application, it says that some misdemeanors would be accepted, but it depends on the severity on those infractions and those penalties. Some have more than two or three. … Their future is pretty much uncertain.
Are there concerns that applying opens you up to future problems?
Yes. Ever since we heard that this was going to come out, we’ve wondered, “What if (the deferred actions) are not granted?” The president has said (rejected applicants) won’t be placed in deportation proceedings, but we have only heard this from the president. … The concern is: Who else will have access to this database, and what will they do with this information? Could they come and take our parents, when they won’t be applying, since they don’t qualify? Still, that won’t stop me from applying.
What misconceptions frustrate you?
We’ve heard we’ve only come here … to take American jobs. … I’ve been here more than 12 years. I consider myself American, and Tucson as my home. The main thing that I want to make sure people get right is that we are not illegal. We are undocumented.
This article appears in Aug 23-29, 2012.
Oh how the tiny violin sings when the Weekly tries to garner sympathy for law breakers. One day, I am going to find that tiny violin that the weekly keeps playing for everyone who has some sob story and break it.
Let me begin my views on this article by first quoting and showing the TW’s question, along with the answer Mr. Saldivar’s answer, which will then be followed up by my comment.
[b]”Why is this issue important to you?”[/b]
“[i]I came into the U.S. when I was 8 years old. At that age, I knew I was going into a new country, and I realized I wasn’t born here. But it wasn’t until high school that it was an issue. I was a 4.0 student and involved in many clubs in my high school. That I would be unable to go to the university and get scholarships based on my hard work didn’t seem possible. But since high school, I became somewhat of an activist in my community.”[/i]
Comment: For being as bright as you are, you never once thought to ask your parents to help you become a legal citizen, even though you knew you were here illegally? You never even thought to yourself ‘hey…i want to go to college but I need to be legal and it may be an issue when I go to administrations….perhaps I should do something about it?” Look kid, I know you are a great student and did things at clubs and around your community, but I do not understand why you still did nothing to help yourself. To me, it’s like your lying about that GPA, when you didn’t even use common sense.
“[b]Have you been able to continue your education?”[/b]
“[i]Due to my involvement, I have been able to get some scholarships, and fortunately, I have been able to continue my education. There are resources out there, but not a lot of undocumented students know of these resources. They become unmotivated, and some think the only way out is to go back to their country of origin. But we have worked to let students know there are opportunities and resources to go to school.”[/i]
Comment: And so you are helping other students continue their education while they live here illegally? Shame on you. You should help them get a student Visa or perhaps a Temporary residency card so they do not run into the road blocks you have. You say you want to help students find resources so they can stay and continue their education….well here is your chance, help them by making it legal for them to at least be here as students and not as Illegals who will always be looking over their shoulder in fear. Quit adding to the problem by finding loop holes.
[b]”What do you think of Gov. Jan Brewer’s order to prevent DREAMers from getting driver’s licenses?”[/b]
“[i]I am not surprised. We have seen many attacks on our community, and this is just another one. We saw it with SB 1070, HB 2281, Joe Arpaio and Russell Pearce.”[/i]
Comment: You do know why she called that into action correct? And no its not because its an attack on people of colored skin. It’s because why should Legal Residents here whatever their ethnicity should be, pay for those who do wrong? Why should the system reward those who play the system and break the NATIONAL LAW? You know this to be true, but you are just as bad as those whom you say discriminate against you. You spread fear and hate among your own, by making anyone who is actually doing as the Constitution says and upholding the law, out to be monsters and haters. Look in the mirror sir…..look in the mirror. You are nothing more than an instigator and trying to make everything into a petty racial issue.
[b]”What’s next?[/b]”
“[i]Right now, nothing is set in stone, but we want to establish a relationship with lawyers. We want and need lawyers involved in our community forums to provide legal advice. … Sometimes, it might be better not to apply.[/i]”
Comment: Let’s hope the lawyers you do find will tell you everything you need to know about the “deferred action” plan… That this entitles you to work….not find a loophole so you can still be here breaking the law by not being a LEGAL resident.
“[b]What misconceptions frustrate you?[/b]
“[i]We’ve heard we’ve only come here … to take American jobs. … I’ve been here more than 12 years. I consider myself American, and Tucson as my home. The main thing that I want to make sure people get right is that we are not illegal. We are undocumented.[/i]
Comment: Yes, I have heard that misconception as well. I know there are many here to look for good honest work and many will do the things Americans find beneath them. (that’s the problem with many people now days…not willing to do the simplest thing or work hard.)
You have been here for more than 12 years and in all that time you never once tried to make the United States and Tucson, your true home? I bet you still haven’t tried have you? It’s people like you that make others angry who go about things the proper legal way. Did you know I have had the honor of knowing people who were once illegal finally come to me happily and show me their citizenship certificates? They waited years but were able to finally pull it off. They say it was worth it. Perhaps you should show some pride in the country you call home and actually do it a service and become a legal citizen.
Oh and by the way, yeah your undocumented, but your still illegal by being here without going through the proper channels. Your parents and you have broken the law. Thus you are illegal.
Now, I know some people are going to cry foul over my comment, but hey, you have an opinion and I have mine.