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!

Prominent leaders; documented and undocumented alike, from every region of the Sunshine state were able to meet face to face to coordinate and observe techniques to improve their advocacy efforts. Moderators, facilitators, and even organizers from the Obama campaign were present and were able to provide workshops and discussions to illustrate how the immigration issue affects us all at a personal level, as Americans, and as a country. All participants were fired up, and wasted no time or energy in organizing the materials necessary to get their own campaign within their community moving to bring awareness to the immigration reform effort.

When we finally met with Carlotta Walls-Lanier and Terrence Roberts of the Little Rock Nine, the resounding message was to keep going. They agreed with the link in our stories and gave us their support, which was what we wanted, but I felt like I needed more. This is only the beginning. The law is not behind us yet. However, “we are together”, they told us, and that will help us live each day. The strength they had to succeed came from having a strong group of friends there with them, laughing, crying, fighting and bleeding together.

Educational organizations representing college personnel, research libraries, Native Americans, college athletics, university professors, admissions officers, and many many more signed on to a letter organized by their umbrella coalition: the American Council of Education. DreamActivist covered it here.

JULY 2: Walter’s deportation deferred

Walter Lara speaks:

JULY 8: Council on Foreign Relations endorses DREAM Act, CIR

They said:

Earned legalization: The Task Force favors a policy of earned legalization, not amnesty, for many of the illegal immigrants currently living in the United States. The DREAM Act, reintroduced in the 111th Congress, provides the right model by requiring that young people without status who wish to remain in the United States must attend college or perform military service and demonstrate good moral character in order to earn their eligibility for permanent residence.

We wrote:

While we don’t agree with many of the recommendations to fund more 287(g) programs (hence allocate more state and local law enforcement resources towards cracking down on non-criminal behavior) and provide for a border wall that does not work, the Council’s endorsement of the DREAM Act is a step in the right direction.

JULY 10: Congressman Polis shouts out Dream Activism during House speech

On the heels of the victory for Walter’s case, Congressman Jared Polis from Colorado’s 2nd District, mentioned the calls made to Napolitano during his speech urging action for the DREAM Act:

JULY 24: Taha receives deferred action

A much-shorter campaign but effective nonetheless, New Jersey DREAM student Taha was granted deferred action by an immigration judge. Like the other cases, a temporary reprieve – but an opportunity for us to stand together once again.

AUGUST 3: DREAM Act student in NBC News

Images of rural Missouri, our DREAM graduation, and the struggle of an outstanding dreamer Now Guzman. The story is here.

AUGUST 6: Campus Progress covers the Dreamers

AUGUST 14: DreamActivist presents at Netroots Nation

As part of the “Case Studies for Civil Rights/ Pro-Migrant Bloggers”, Prerna presented on how undocumented students have used social media tools to build support for their cause.

AUGUST 15: Tour De Dreams starts in Los Angeles

California Dreamers biked 511 miles from Los Angeles to Berkeley to raise awareness and build support for the DREAM Act.

AUGUST 19: Herta’s deportation case comes to the forefront

A soft-spoken Albanian student from Michigan became an unlikely hero for many of us as she voiced her own need for immigration reform and the DREAM Act. The extensive coverage of her case can still be found here.

AUGUST 20: Dreamer Tam Tran speaks at the American Sociological Association

Tam, who testified in congress for the DREAM Act during the 2007 legislative session, continued her advocacy in a different forum: the academic world. As a graduate student from Brown University, Tam represented us well at the conference opening plenary titled Building Excellent, Diverse, and Just Communities: A Conversation Among Artists, Academics, and Activists.

AUGUST 28: Mother Jones Magazine honors Dream student activism

The yearly Hellraisers awards were given out by Mother Jones, honoring youth-led initiatives that made an impact. Reflecting on the accolade, we honored a historical figure of immigrant-led activism, Mother Jones herself.

Like in previous years, thousands of pro-migrant advocates took to the streets to let their presence be known and remind Congress of their promise for immigration reform. DreamActivist covered it here.

MAY 4: DREAM ACT buttons released

Seen someone else sporting them around? Struck a conversation with a stranger while wearing? If you did not, you haven’t dreamed.

MAY 6: Napolitano voices support for DREAM

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano knew about the Dreamers since her time as Governor of Arizona. While her department was getting reviewed by the Judiciary Committee, she said YES on DREAM:

“I supported the DREAM Act when I was governor. I support it now…It seems to me that that DREAM Act is a good piece of legislation and a good idea.” – Janet Napolitano

MAY 21: Harvard President supports DREAM

After a prolonged effort by Harvard students to receive public support, President Drew Faust expressed her support for a path to legal status for undocumented students.

MAY 28: Mayor Bloomberg and business leaders support DREAM

The independent mayor of New York City’s endorsement was joined by the CEO’s of Macy’s, Morgan Stanley, News Corporation, Citigroup, WL Ross & Co LLC,  Tishman Speyer, Deutsche Bank Americas, Partnership for New York City, Boston Properties, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, Con Edison, Stowe, National Grid, American Express Company, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Pfize, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz:

The Dream Act offers a fair bargain benefiting both children and the country. As you work to pass it, you will have our full support.

JUNE 3: Mo represents DreamActivist in DC

At the Computers, Freedom, and Privacy Network, DreamActivist core member Mo spoke about undocumented student organizing and how the privacy afforded by Internet communication was key in helping us come together.

JUNE 3: Dreamers participate in Reform Immigration for America summit

Thousands of faxes, phone calls, text messages, and tweets later, there was a major coalition being formed. Julieta from Texas was selected to represent Dreamers at the townhall:

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. – Julieta Garibay, United We Dream Board Member

JUNE 11: Stanford President supports DREAM

Stanford President John Hennessy added his name and signature to the DREAM Act supporters’ list.

JUNE 12: Another UCLA Dreamer in CNN

Nancy was finishing her Bachelor’s degree and getting accepted to schools all over the country. She told her story in Anderson Cooper’s show:

JUNE 20: Walter Lara campaign launched

The campaign to save Walter started brewing something really special. When Dreamers speak out, support comes from all over to stop their deportations. As graduation neared, faxes started pouring in to the offices of the Department of Homeland Security to tell them Walter’s deportation needed to be stopped. On our site, Walter started with his story of self:

At a young age I would get these visions in my sleep, never knowing what they meant. I think they were my mother and I. We were hiding, I was three years old. I could feel the tension, I wanted to cry but my mom was pleading with me not to. I recall the image of us hiding under a train, and holding each other tighter as the footsteps came closer. As quickly as the vision came, just as quickly it went away.

I have another of these visions of which I remember. It’s of my mom and I walking through bushes, late at night. I remember vividly the tearing of her stockings as she treaded along carrying me. At first it was easy we where in a downward inclination, but then it got harder, we had to go up later realizing that it was a small valley. As she kept going I saw lights appear; they were headlights from a vehicle, and there were people in front of those lights. My mom then got frantic and started moving all over the place. They were throwing rocks for reasons that I could not comprehend. I don’t remember what happened after that. In either vision I could not hear a thing; I could only feel the anxiety and the stress both my mom and I were sharing.

Around the time I was about to graduate from high school I asked my mom about these visions. I thought they were just dreams, but I would get them often. She told me that these visions were not dreams, but were actual events, things that we went through to get from Argentina to the United States. I was ignorant towards the country’s legal system before that day.

JUNE 23: National Dream Graduation and solidarity events

Students in Los Angeles, Kansas City, San Jose, Arizona, Houston, Washington DC, Denver, Miami, Chicago, Indianapolis, New Jersey, North Carolina, and other cities stood up for the dreams at the same time. Hundreds in Washington DC roared when Benita gave her speech:

In Los Angeles, the DREAM power was felt as well:

JUNE 29: Wisconsin approves in-state tuition bill

The Wisconsin delegation had one of the longest drives to the National Dream Graduation in Washington, DC. The excitement of the event was only the beginning, as they got back to their state to find out the budget provision granting in-state tuition to Wisconsin undocumented students was becoming law.

The shoestring budget website was up and running and on its way to more than 25,000 signatories. Its new URL is DREAMAct.com and you can still use it as one of the many ways to get connected to the DREAM movement.

MARCH 20-24: The United States Students Association gets DREAMing.

The largest and oldest student-led organization in the nation stood with undocumented students by fighting for our right to an education. While our opposition continues to claim American citizens are hurt by our presence in their schools, hundreds of American students walked the halls of Congress advocating for the DREAM Act and Student Aid Reform. Our very own Juan wrote this report. Sofia from UCLA gave this speech. Our biggest ally in Congress, Dick Durbin from Illinois, was there to welcome the students and encourage them to fight.

MARCH 27: DREAM Act introduced

While the so-called leadership in both houses of Congress failed to recognize the urgency of immigration reform and the crazies in the opposition kept waving the anti-immigrant flag, our biggest advocates were there to once again introduce S. 729: The DREAM Act and H.R. 1751: American Dream Act. A hope was renewed.

MARCH 30: Minutemen for the DREAM Act?

Minutemen President Chris Simcox reacts to the news of introduction by saying he is “not necessarily against” the bill. One of the early signs that anti-immigrant advocates would rather give undocumented youth a narrow path to legal status rather than have them fight for broad change for their whole families. Something to keep in mind as we push for CIR ASAP in 2010.

APRIL 3: Microsoft endorses the DREAM Act

Mac-using Dreamers take a step back. After Bill Gates’ company issues a surprising endorsement of the DREAM Act, it is now cool to use a PC.

APRIL 15: Berkeley Dreamers make it to ABC News

Students – and the chancellor – of the University of California Berkeley were interviewed on this important piece by ABC News.

APRIL 21: College Board issues report, endorses DREAM Act in Capitol Hill

“The growing pool of young adults who lack both adequate educational access to keep them socially mobile and the legal right to work in the United States presents serious problems not only for the students themselves but also for U.S. society as a whole.”
–Roberto G. Gonzales, Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, who authored the report.

APRIL 22: Dreamers debate in the New York Times

The Room for Debate feature in the NY Times opinion website featured two online DreamActivists standing up against Mark Krikorian from CIS.

Our human rights are a prohibitively high price to pay in the opposition to the bill. We know, because we have been paying it. – Nick, Dream Act Portal

What is American? Who is an American? The lack of a nine-digit Social Security number and a green card does not make me less American in my tastes, values and ambitions. – Prerna, promigrant.org

APRIL 23: UCLA Dreamer in CNN Morning News

My legs were shaking, but the outpour of love from all over made me feel happy I shared my story with the world.

The year has come and gone, but not without leaving DreamActivists all over the country with profound memories of an incredible year. Some of these memories were happy, some were sad, many left the participants feeling that a youth-led movement for a better immigration policy is within our grasp. Before we launch into what 2010 will bring for our coalition, let’s spend the day by taking a look back at all the moments that made 2009 the best year for the Dreamers. Because we know DreamActivist did not cover it all, please help us by adding your own memories of what a year of powerful activism left for you. Here we go:

JANUARY 7: United We Dream Facebook Cause launched

Almost a year later, we have 49,440 people in the Cause. If you want to be number 50,000, you can join here.

JANUARY 15: DREAM Act makes the Top 10 “IDEAS for Change” in Change.org

Without a big listserv to push our idea, we relied on our own tricks. If you are even remotely close to a Dreamer, there is no way you could escape the onslaught of requests to sign the petition. In California, a last-second effort to gain votes even took us to the evening news to tell our stories. Prerna announced it on this post. In the comments, Gaby Pacheco from Florida described the overall feeling quite well:

I want to congratulate and thank everyone that made this possible. I feel honored to be called a DREAM Act student and to be part of this struggle.

FEBRUARY 8: Wisconsin picks up the fight

On this day, we posted one of the Voces de la Frontera DREAM Act Public Service Announcements. The Wisconsin youth were getting ready to move their state legislature to grant them in-state tuition and by the looks of it, they had their speech ready:

FEBRUARY 19: Dreamers testify in the Washington State Legislature

“They’re asking for documents that prove I’m going through a hardship. How do I explain to them that my hardship is the fact that I don’t have documents?” – Luis Ortega

In their testimony, Luis and fellow dreamer Manuel Garcia had the right passion. Unfortunately, the Washington State House Higher Education Committee did not have the right answer.