Latina in Nashville: L is for Liberal

The L-Club, a group of progressives who gather to discuss the issues and causes du jour, got together on a Saturday night at La Iglesia Catolica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (after finding a place to park) to talk about New Americans and the Dream Act.

Amelia Post, Youth Organizer for TIRRC, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, and a group of youth working with JUMP, Jovenes Unidos para un Mejor Presente, gave the L-Club an in-depth view of life as an undocumented student. Some of these young people were brought to the United States as young as 2 years old while others came a little older. But regardless of who brought them or how they got here the struggles they face every day are the same. The simple task of getting around the city can easily become a misdemeanor that can then turn into deportation. Finding a college or university that will accept them is one hurdle, paying for higher education with little to no financial assistance or loans is another daunting task. Many undocumented students not only face a myriad of fears and obstacles, they also have to deal with shame. For starters, one doesn’t admit that he/she is undocumented because of the legal ramifications. But not having a social security number can also make a person feel less than whole. The inability to obtain an identification card with your name and photograph, the inability to leave the country for vacation, the inability to vote, and the inability to work and give back to the community that raised you can leave a young person feeling trapped, disabled, hopeless and ashamed.

The encouraging news is that TIRRC and JUMP are fighting for undocumented students and offer solidarity and support to students dealing with this very complex and controversial issue.

I remember how excited I was when my shiny new driver’s license was handed to me for the first time. There is no telling when these students will get to experience that same privilege. They need our financial and moral support. From now on I will think of them every time I touch my driver’s license. I hope you will too.