Trump is About to Awake a Sleeping Giant

Earlier today I completed my final class of the summer. I was one of the last two people to finish the essay because as usual, I always have a lot to say. So here I was, after spending two hours writing an essay analyzing Machiavelli and Marx, exhausted and hungry. I walked over to the cafeteria and as I sat down to eat I received a message on Snapchat “hey there are rumors circulating that DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] will be terminated soon.” texted a friend. I looked at it for a brief moment and my first reaction was numbness. I thought to myself ‘this is the 15th time I’ve heard DACA will be cancelled this year. This is probably just noise coming from D.C.’ Then, the anxiety kicked in. That same feeling that followed me for weeks after the November 9th election and then the weeks following the inauguration on January 20th. You know… that feeling of suffocation, of feeling trapped, of feeling contained; and then the most immediate thoughts clouded me, ‘how will I pay for my last two semesters?’, ‘will I be able to keep my driver’s license? My car?’.

During the past 4 years I was able to do and accomplish things I certainly never thought I’d get to do and accomplish. I purchased a car, I attained a driver’s license & a social security card. I enrolled in college and supported my family. And then I did the unthinkable — I went home, to Brazil, after 14 years. I would be a fool to not admit that DACA improved my life and no, not for one second do I credit politicians for it; because I remember way too well wearing caps and gowns marching through the streets of D.C. six years ago. We were so angry but so full of passion. We dreamed of more and we went for it knowing well the risk we were putting ourselves in. Let that sink in. Not the well funded orgs who had been doing immigration work for over twenty years. It was the energized, loud, disruptive youth who did it. Now we find ourselves here. A coalition of ten states is threatening to sue the President if he doesn’t eliminate DACA by September 5th. As rumors circulate that this may actually happen, the lives of young undocumented youth are certainly going to be used by both Democrats and Republicans as bargaining chips.

Now this termination won’t impact the majority of the undocumented population. The program solely served a small portion of that population, an estimate of 800,000 people. But I feel for the undocumented youth whose entire world revolved around DACA. People like my own sister who were able to qualify immediately after turning 15 years of age. How do we make sure that population of undocumented youth are also okay?

In a few days, we will know the fate of DACA and yes, we may have to get ready for the worst. Hopefully, groups from across the country will hold intentional spaces to allow people to process this moment. Then when the moment pass, many of us will attempt to hide back in the shadows for our own protection and that of our families.

But we cannot afford to do that and trust me I too have to remind myself sometimes…even after all these years. While 800,000 of us have been privileged to have benefited from DACA, millions have been deported and millions more will be too. This is the time to fight like hell. To fight Democrats and Republicans when they try to use us as bargaining chips for walls and more enforcement. To protect the state benefits we’ve won, like instate tuition or driver’s licenses. To chain ourselves to the offices of policymakers and march through every city in this country. We need to fight. We need you.

Seven years ago in 2010, when the DREAM ACT had been re-introduced, for the first time we came out as ‘undocumented and unafraid!’ in the media and out on the streets. We spent 15 hours on buses traveling overnight just to protest the next day & attend organizing trainings. We would couch surf left and right with strangers to ensure our actions were successful. We’d spend days eating stale food and without access to showers. Yet through all those conditions we found moments to laugh, to cry and to hold each other — all because we had our sights on that bill. Many faces have changed — and new spaces have been created — but the power of the immigrant youth movement is still there. Trump needs to know he’s awaken a sleeping giant and that we are not going down without a fight. So I urge you, don’t hide, stay connected, stay close because that’s the only way we can win.

Weeks ago, when I first heard that the 10 state attorney generals sent a letter to the White House, I confided in a friend my worries. She didn’t say much …yet she said everything ‘I know boo, but we got each other.’ Again it wasn’t much…but it was enough for me. I hope it’s enough for you too.