We’ll let Julieta speak for herself. Below is her speech from the recently concluded Reform Immigration for America conference:

I am Julieta; part of the United We DREAM Coalition. We represent the thousands of individuals who have been brought to this country as minors and although they did not have the privilege of being born in the United States, they love this country and call it home. United We DREAM is a youth-led coalition where some of the members are personally affected by the DREAM Act and others are passionate family members, friends,and teachers who have taken upon themselves to become part of the solution; to fight for a better future for these students.
I was born in Mexico City and migrated to the United States
when I was 11 years old. My divorced mother, sister and I struggle to make the best of living in an unknown country. My only recollection of my father was the physical and mental abuse he put my mother through.
Although we did not know the language, culture or the American way of leaving, we fought our way through. Years later, I graduated from high school with honors and even received recruitment letters from Yale University. Although I wanted to pursue my education, at the time undocumented immigrants were not allowed to attend universities or colleges in Texas.
It wasn’t until 3 years later that I was finally eligible to attend Dallas County Community College, where I earned my Associate Degree in Nursing. By January 2004 I earned my License as a registered nurse in Texas. In 2005, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. In May 2008, I obtained a Master’s degree of Science Public Health Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the International
Honor Society of Nursing. Although my family and I struggled a lot during my college years, I can proudly stand before you and tell you that I am one of the first ones in my family with a master’s degree.

However, regardless of my credentials, my desire to fully contribute to my community, and the shortage of bilingual nurses, the government has not granted me the opportunity to maximize my potential. Today, my diplomas are only pretty frames on the wall and nothing else. Although at times I have felt tired, hopeless, fearful of deportation everyday of my life I pray with all my heart that some day I will have the chance to practice my profession,to stop living in fear of deportation, and to live the American DREAM.

Like each of you, United We DREAM is strongly committed to fight for justice on behalf of the immigrants in our communities. Like me there are many other teachers, doctors, engineers whose hopes and dreams are on stand still. I hope that our stories continue to ignite your commitment to fight for those who don’t have a voice.

Lastly, I ask you to think about this – The DREAM Act would provide the opportunity to this country to take an important first step towards Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Regardless if you are a student fighting for your dreams, or fighting to keep your family together or a farm worker, today is our day to unite and make history.

Julieta

We have videos courtesy Citizen Orange, whenever he gets a break to upload them.