by Matias Ramos
2009 in Review: November-December
December 31, 2009 in News Article, Year in Review by Matias Ramos
NOVEMBER 3: Mejias family broken up
Gilbert Mejia’s wishes were not granted:
While we knew that there were slim chances for the Mejia family to get a stop on their deportation, it was still heartbreaking to see their hopes doomed by the inaction of Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein from California.
NOVEMBER 14: Papers The Movie promoted on CNN
CNN Anchorman Rick Sanchez welcomed Dream Act student Walter Lara and “Papers” producers Anne Galinsky to discuss the upcoming movie and the growing activism around the DREAM Act. Days after hate-mongering Lou Dobbs was out of a job, Dreamers were taking the front stage once again.
NOVEMBER 16: UWD in The Nation
I wrote a piece for The Nation magazine reflecting on how youth have organized after the Obama election. Holding him accountable to his promises, and helping him get the political support necessary to reform immigration, is a fight for all progressives.
NOVEMBER 17: Korean Dreamers seeks to expand our base
Ju launched his website JoinJu, in order to encourage more Korean American undocumented students to speak out for their rights. For him, it all started with sharing his secret.
NOVEMBER 18: Two DREAM Act leaders in Miami detained
In the first of two cases in two months shaking Florida-based DREAM Act student advocates, brothers Jesus and Guillermo were detained by ICE. The activism supporting them was key in their eventual release and ICE re-opening their family’s case instead of deporting them.
NOVEMBER 30: Trail of Dreams announced on DreamActivist
In just a few hours, students will start marching towards Washington, DC. The coverage of this historic march started on that day and will continue over the last few weeks. For more, visit the Trail of Dreams website.
DECEMBER 1: Associated Press video covers DREAM
And they come to the United We Dream office desk to do so. An opponent of the DREAM Act who has spent decades denying access to equal rights for undocumented people claims fake sympathy, and the debate begins.
DECEMBER 12: Andrea’s deportation halted
Another Florida activist received a reprieve on her deportation. This time, ICE’s original intent was to deport her because of a traffic ticket. Many young leaders, from the immigrant rights arena and elsewhere, stood up for her and quickly organized to get her out of a detention center.
DECEMBER 13: DreamActivist holds first-ever retreat
Two years after this website got kicking, and 6 months after I came on board, the majority of the DreamActivist core group finally decides to come up with a plan for all the work we do. Imagine that! Kyle writes:
Nativists should be shaking in their boots. The migrant youth movement is growing stronger and stronger. The United We Dream Network is consolidating, and Dreamactivist.org just sent out our first email through our brand new spanking action center. Fired up! Ready to Go!
DECEMBER 15: CIR ASAP introduced
Congressman Gutierrez and all the progressive politicos were out in force to express what is at the top of the progressive agenda for 2010: Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The Dreamers were not forgotten, as the current bill provides them with all the provisions of the DREAM Act and the ability to receive a path to legal status without penalties.
DECEMBER 16: USA Today covers activism, but FAILS
In an article covering the very successful campaign to stop Rigo Padilla’s deportation, USA Today committed a major mistake in using the term “illegal” as a presumably appropriate descriptor for the word students. Hundreds of phone calls and faxes later, they knew there is no such thing as an illegal student.
DECEMBER 17: Texas in-state tuition challenged
A group that ridiculously complains about the US-Mexico border not being as secured as the South Korea- North Korea border files a lawsuit to stop the tuition equity provisions in the Texas higher education system. MALDEF and Texas-based DREAM organizations immediately respond and will be fighting this lawsuit in the future.
DECEMBERÂ 25: A dreamer searches for a wife
The perfect Christsmas gift to all U.S. citizen single women, DreamActivist data manager Gabe reflects on all the years he has been waiting for legislative changes to give him a path to legal status and announces his plan to take matters in his own hands by finding a woman to ask for her hand in marriage. Follow GIR in 2010!
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The DREAM Act did not pass in 2009, but the DREAM Movement came together and we are happy to have been a part of it. There is lots of work to be done, relationships to build, stories to share, and battles to win. Thanks everyone so far, and let’s make 2010 the year of the Dreamers.
