By Julia Schmalz ~ The Chronicle of Higher Education~ December 20, 2017
Fighting against time to make their case to Congress…
Washington, DC–They came from campuses across the country. They came with hope and conviction. And they came with a firm message: Time is running out.
Undocumented college students, who were brought to the United States illegally as children and who are known as “Dreamers,” took to the halls of Capitol Hill on Tuesday, joining several hundred supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The DACA program has enabled thousands of Dreamers to avoid being deported, to attend college, and to work.
Amid the scramble in Congress to pass a tax overhaul, the students pressed lawmakers not to forget them or that the program expires in March without new legislation.
The day started with impassioned pleas and the beating of drums, and ended with civil disobedience. The students hope that their message was heard and that leaders — on the Hill and back on campuses — will fight for their political cause.
26 hours by bus
Martha, a 20-year-old mathematics major and DACA recipient at Tarrant County College, in Fort Worth, traveled 26 hours by bus with a group of about 50 other students and supporters. Her DACA status will take her through graduation, but if a bill is not passed in two years, when she graduates, she will be unable to get a job.
She wants to give back to her community by becoming a math teacher, but those plans may be in jeopardy. “As a DACA recipient, I am not eligible for financial aid. Everything I have been paying has been out of pocket. So there are thousands and thousands of dollars that I have been investing in myself.”
Make some noise
According to United We Dream, an immigrant-youth organization, about 900 students, educators, and allies came to Washington for this week’s events.
Didn’t tell her parents
Brenda, a 19-year-old DACA recipient, is studying health at Texas A&M University and wants to be an occupational therapist. Her family thought she was going to Washington for a fun trip. “I called my mother last night and told her about it, and I knew she was going to get worried, and she started crying.”
Forced to Wait
Thirty members of Congress were the focus of Tuesday’s efforts, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California. The group waited for hours to speak to the senator, but were turned away.
Back to square 1
Rafa, a 24-year-old DACA recipient studying sociology and Chicano and Latino studies at the University of California at Irvine, hopes to go into student affairs. He feels as if President Trump’s decision to rescind DACA has put him right back where he started, with an uncertain future. “I try not to let it get to me emotionally because there are still things to get done in terms of my school and work and all of that.” He and his girlfriend are also expecting their first child, so he thinks about not only his own security, but also his family’s.
Banner Day
Activists displayed banners in the Hart Senate Office Building just long enough to take photos for social media and short enough to avoid arrest.
Appreciative
Eric, a 25-year-old DACA recipient, hopes to become an accountant and is studying business economics at the University of California at Irvine. “Having DACA is a great privilege,” he says, and it allowed him to work on the campus. He is also concerned about immigrants who did not qualify for DACA.
Giving it their all
Members of United We Dream joined with those of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium in the office of Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat. “Up, up with education, down, down with deportation,” they chanted.
On a mission to educate
Irving, a 21-year-old DACA recipient, is studying fine arts at Western Michigan University and thinking about a career in either photography or graphic design. This is the fifth time he has traveled to Washington to raise support for immigrants like himself. “We want to have a conversation about who are the Dreamers?” He thinks many people don’t understand the policy’s requirements, such as school or being in the military.
A civil ending
The day ended with coordinated civil-disobedience arrests, which were conducted early enough in the evening so the activists could be processed to return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to do it all over again.
Source: Julia Schmalz is a senior multimedia producer. She tells stories with photos, audio, and video. Follow her on Twitter @jschmalz09, or email her at julia.schmalz@chronicle.com.
