DREAMer students explain why immigration reform is important

By Taylor Pineda

The Dream is Now, a film by Davis Guggenheim that was screened April 30 at ASU did more than just show the tremendous courage of undocumented youth. It also showed the relevance of productive young people who have successfully completed educations and, unfortunately, cannot put these educations to use. DREAMers such as Erika Andiola and James Rojas were in attendance and later spoke on their experiences as being undocumented young people.

For both DREAMers the idea of going to school felt unattainable because of their status, a situation familiar to  many undocumented youth. Education equates to opportunity, but many DREAMers felt they no longer have access to it after high school. Erika speaks of her tuition increase, saying that she remembers her fees increasing three-fold overnight, when Arizonans voted on a ballot measure requiring undocumented students to pay out of state tuition.

Such limitations on education for young undocumented people are trickling down upon other youth that do not know of the stories of strength and perseverance such as Erika and James had. James, who graduated from ASU, faces the obstacles of having a degree but no documentation to work and do other things.

During the panel he was asked why students like him are needed and how he felt knowing he cannot yet work.  He replied, “There is a huge pool of undocumented students that are aware and want to help fulfill these careers in engineering, that can’t. We have to out search jobs when there are smart, talented workers who aren’t allowed to work right here.” James has spent time working in construction and was unable to use his degree.

James and Erika are not alone in this battle for legalization. Many organization have worked to form, as Erika put it, “Veteran DREAMers.” These are  students and former students who continue to help the movement. Erika has put a human face to the issue by stating, “What does an undocumented worker or student look like?” Because DREAMers look like other young Americans to want to contribute to this country, she says this tact has helped to gain the support of the community.

Many were in tears as the documentary screened.  The support for young people such as the DREAMer former students and all undocumented students were unanimous throughout the room.

For more information and to watch the documentary, visit: www.TheDreamisNow.org.