Viridiana Martinez, North Carolina Dream Team

Undocumented & Unafraid: Do Not Comply with the BAN!

My name is Viridiana. I am undocumented.

When I was six years old, my father was forced to leave Mexico for the United States. His previous job no longer existed; after the peso devaluation caused by NAFTA, the company he worked for had to shut down. Inflation caused the prices of staple food items like milk and eggs to skyrocket. Jobs became scarce. To continue providing for his family, Daddy was left with no other choice but to leave Mexico for the tobacco fields of North Carolina. A year later, we would reunite with him there -- the place that would become my home. Little did I know that later it would become a holding cell.

My first day of school was anything but easy. Although I was one of only two Hispanic students in the entire school, I managed to assimilate rather quickly. By the third grade I was fluent in English without having taken an ESL course -- ESL courses didn't exist back then. I excelled all through school. I knew one thing: I wanted to attend college. When I got to high school, I knew I needed a solid transcript with the right extracurricular activities and the right courses to get into North Carolina State University. I wanted to study International Relations and work at the United Nations. Recognizing my own obstacles growing up and connecting the dots between them and other struggles made me want to help others, but my dreams were denied. Although I was accepted to NCSU, I could not attend because I am undocumented.

Years later, I've watched my community's hope deteriorate as we continue to be dehumanized through proposed legislation. Our families live in constant fear as established collaborations with La Migra and our local law enforcement agencies continue to expand. The place in which we once felt secure is now specifically targeting undocumented people -- specifically targeting people like my family and I. How did my North Carolina get to this point? When did I start feeling targeted in my own home?

Last year, Senator Kay Hagan became the 41st vote against the DREAM Act. Killing the dreams of 51,000 North Carolinian youth, she has ignored our plight. Today, we are left to deal with the consequences of her inaction. Just two months ago, a bill proposing to ban undocumented youth from public colleges and universities was filed in North Carolina. Following the steps of South Carolina and Georgia, our human right to education is being denied to us under the law. Senator Hagan has yet to send out a public statement on her vote last year.

Remaining in the shadows is not only not an option -- it is no longer acceptable. I'm calling on you, my fellow dreamer, to come out and declare yourself undocumented and unafraid! Lobbying, protesting, and rallying are no longer enough. I'm calling on all dreamers who have been actively pursuing the DREAM -- it's time to escalate! I'm calling on you, friend, supporter, and ally -- it's time to speak out against my oppressors.

Which side are you on? Will you take a stand? Will you speak out with me?

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Dream
• Act
• immigration
• education
• higher
• love
• carino
• youth
• student