A New York crowd treks to D.C. to support the DREAM Act
It was 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 6. Carlos Munoz and his little sister Margaret had already arrived at Cabrini Immigrant Services’ office in downtown Manhattan. They were about to board a bus to Washington, D.C., joining thousands of others to demand that a clean DREAM Act be passed by Congress.
Munoz packed a sign — “Support A Clean DREAM Act! Help DACA Students!” — into his backpack. He made it a week ago with organizers and allies from Cabrini, an organization that he has known since he was 12.
The DREAM Act, a bill that was introduced in 2001 but has never been passed by Congress, would provide a path to citizenship for eligible undocumented youth, most of whom are now on DACA.
DACA, short for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, allows people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children to obtain temporary right to study and work.
In September, the Trump administration ordered an end to DACA, but gave Congress until March to find a solution. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at the time that “the effect of this unilateral executive amnesty contributed to a surge of unaccompanied minors on the southern border that yielded terrible humanitarian consequences. It also denied jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans.”
That’s the cause that spurs Munoz, a Brooklyn College sophomore. He is juggling school, where he is taking five courses this semester, and part-time work as a consulting intern at the District 37 City Council Office.
Munoz is studying economics as his major, but hopes to go to law school afterward. “I really want to be a lawyer, to study Constitutional law,” said Munoz.
On protest day, thousands of participants gathered in front of Capitol Hill.
“All I want for Christmas is Congress to pass the DREAM Act, so that my mommy can stay with me,” said Jasmine Lopez, a 11-year-old who couldn’t help crying as she spoke in front of a crowd about her mom, a DACA recipient whose status is set to expire on Dec. 22. “This would be a Christmas miracle for me.”
The audience, some wiping away tears, responded with standing applause.
Munoz seemed a little nervous when he spoke, but nevertheless grabbed the megaphone, facing a crowd constantly chanting “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcomed here!”
“I came to the United States when I was 4, and I went through hurdles just to get into college, trying to apply for financial aid,” Munoz said. “Now that DACA has been terminated, I won’t be able to work anymore.”
He paused for a few seconds.
“I believe many others are DACA students just like me, and they deserve the right to work and to contribute to this great nation,” Munoz said.
Some DREAMers were less vocal. Monse Gonzalez, who is finishing her first year at LaGuardia Community College, wore a cap and sunglasses to hide her face from cameras.
“I don’t know if I can continue with school,” said Gonzalez, who came to the United States from Mexico when she was 4 months old. “Ending DACA is freaking me out.”
Gonzalez works as a waitress to pay for college and support her family.
Her status is set to expire in December 2018, she said, and the uncertainty is holding her back from planning her life.
“I know nothing about Mexico City, nor have I ever been there,” Gonzalez said.
Standing in the middle of the crowd, Gonzalez hesitated.
“Do you think Dream Act can pass? I don’t know. It’s been too long,” said Gonzalez.
Though her feelings were mixed, she managed to Facetime with her mom back in Queens, N.Y. “Mom, I am in D.C. for a rally now. I really am,” said Gonzalez.
