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June 15, 2013. Today is the one year anniversary of DACA. I still can’t believe that one year ago we were sitting in Obama For America Offices demanding Obama to grant an Executive Order and stop deporting Dreamers.
It’s crazy to think how a bunch of sit-ins by undocumented youth all over the country could contribute so much to getting us a change in legislation.
I’m not going to say or claim that we got everyone DACA because we didn’t. We contributed to the already existing dialogue of the past work done by all these other immigrant activist who have been stopping DREAMer deportations and whatnot. But I will say this, we gave it the push it needed…
Regardless, there is still much work to be done (doesn’t end at DACA) but this seriously will always be one of my fondest memories.
(via queerdesi)
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A Queer Desi: DACA - One Year On
I have probably received approvals for over 40 DACA applications, a 100% record FYI, at work. However, I haven’t bothered to fill out the paperwork for myself, because lets be honest, I’d rather be in removal proceedings and defeat the goddamn U.S. government, than beg them to not deport me for…
This.
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Univision included me on their list of “DREAMers Who Prove Deportation Relief Was Smart.”
I recall sitting on desk at my internship last year. It was a Friday, and my cellphone rang - flashing a “BLOCKED” number.
Here was Stephanie Valencia from the White House telling me about what the President was about to announce. How it would change things, and how the White House hoped that we (DreamActivist.org) would help students get the resources necessary in order to benefit from the Deferred Action program.
“Please, help people avoid scammers.” she said.
A year has gone by, and I do not dare forget what exactly it took for us to get to where we are. Arrests. Hunger Strikes. Fractures in the structures of our movement. Broken friendships. Trips around the country. Debt.
Despite me being able to benefit from DACA, I recognize that this is only but temporary. A hall pass, a game changer for many of us, that remains inaccessible to many undocumented youth out.
The work is by no means done - la lucha continua. Pa’lante!
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Tumblr of the Week: (Un)documenting
Undocumented, Unafraid, Unapologetic- Photography by Gerardo Mendez, one of the people featured in (Un)documenting.
By SYLVIA CIPRA
Each week we feature a Tumblr that we think stands out for all the right reasons. Whether it has original content or a great mission, we hope to introduce you to the best that Tumblr has to offer. Feel free to submit/recommend your favorite blogs to Sylvia.Cipra@Fusion.com
This week we have a newbie in the Tumblr world, (Un)documenting. This blog showcases undocumented, or formally undocumented, people and all of their creative glory.
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DACAmented? Florida SHOULD provide you with in-state tuition.
See the document above? Up until recently, this was a text that I was completely unfamiliar. This was mainly due to the fact that up until last year, the was no way for me, or any undocumented immigrant for that matter, to benefit from in-state tuition.
However, now that many of us keep asking ourselves one question - could I get in-state tuition with my Deferred Action approval?
Well, Florida International University seems to think so! Yet, not all Universities or Colleges have been so quickly to open the doors to DACAmented immigrants.
The Sun Sentinel reported over the weekend as to how other institutions of higher education are “looking into” the policies that would allow them to provide said students with the in-state tuition rate.
And there is reason to believe that they are being very cautious with what they announce!
Remember that Governor Rick Scott is no friend of undocumented immigrants. He recently vetoed a bill that, despite being redundant, would have formalized the approval of drivers licenses for DACA beneficiaries is only but a reminder of that. His rationale for the veto read:
“Although the Legislature may have been well intentioned in seeking to expedite the process to obtain a temporary driver license, it should not have been done by relying on a federal government policy adopted without legal basis,”
Under the threat of cuts in funding, or retaliation from the Legislature, I am confident that many University and College administrators are looking deep into what are the implications of providing us, the undocumented immigrant, with in-state tuition.
Yet, there is hope.
The manual above which is used by “ Florida’s public colleges and state universities [to] determining residency for tuition purposes and by authorized independent colleges and universities in determining eligibility for state financial aid programs” states the following:
Non-U.S. citizens who fall within the following categories are also eligible to establish Florida
residency for tuition purposes:
1) Citizens of Micronesia.
2) Citizens of the Marshall Islands.
3) Beneficiaries of the Family Unity Program.
4) Individuals granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
5) Individuals granted Withholding of Removal status.
6) Individuals granted Suspension of Deportation status or Cancellation of Removal.
7) Individuals granted a Stay of Deportation or Stay of Removal.
8) Individuals granted Deferred Action Status.
9) Individuals granted Deferred Enforced Departure status.
10) Applicants for Adjustment of Status.
11) Individuals granted asylum.
12) Individuals granted refugee status.
13) Individuals granted parolee status.
14) Individuals defined as Cuban or Haitian entrants under the Refugee Education Assistance Act
Hooray! But act proceed with caution (after you read the entirety of the document). At the end of the day, it falls on the University or College to determine your residency status.
Confused? Yes, many of us are. However, do not be discouraged. Take this information to your college or university and ask them to have a second look. Applying to college? Call financial aide (or pay them a visit, which always proves to be a better route) and ask them about their policies surrounding DACA and in-state tuition.
Need more information? Read the documents that allowed FIU to create its DACA policy. Yes, these too should be handed to your future college or university.
Found a college that provides in-state tuition in Florida? Rumor has it that Miami-Dade and Valencia are. Leave a comment with your findings, or experience.
Good luck.
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Possibly THE BEST “chart” ever brought to the floor of the House of Representatives.
Possible quotes:
“See no more illegals.”
“And this is is how it would look if I built a wall around myself.”
“Let me show you something I helped my grandson build for school.”
(Source: senatecharts)
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illegal immigrants? you mean white people
except that white people didn’t immigrate into the united states… they funded the united states. you can’t illegally immigrate into a society you created.
did you actually just say white people created society in america
i literally laughed out loud at this.
Can we acknowledge the poor soul who stated that white people didn’t immigrate into the United States? SMH.
(via jasontyler)
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Some of the awesomeness that I spotted at last night’s housewarming/birthday party.
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Well, this is awkward. Spotted this as I ate breakfast this morning. SMH.
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Back when DreamActivist.org was on some people’s good side.
