My name is Mohammad and I am a 22-year-old undocumented student. I have been living and going to school here in Michigan -in the same city in fact- since I was 3 years old. After high school I was accepted to all of the schools I applied to, however I was unable to attend due to my immigration status. I have since been going to a community college building up enough credits to one day transfer into a four year school where I hope to get my bachelors in social work. I often run into classmates or teachers from high school and I always find myself stretching the truth as to what I am now doing, it is always “oh you know just taking it slow so I can work and go to school at the same time,” when in reality I would love nothing more than to be able to further my education and move on just as my peers have been able to do so.
My mom often says, “why stay here, just go back home and we will figure something out?” Of course, she doesn’t know that I also happen to be gay and so returning home to a country that has publicly killed people for being gay is just NOT an option. Whenever my legal gay friends talk about their current living situations and the types of things they have to deal with at home I can certainly empathize with them but in the back of my head I can’t help but think “at least you have a choice in the matter, at least you CAN legally get a job and move out if need be,” I don’t even have that option.
My only option at this point is the DREAM Act, without it I am forced to live in a constant state of limbo.
Email: mo@dreamactivist.org
