Cesar is a sophomore in college, an honors student who loves tennis and soccer. His dream is to become a neuroscientist.
Cesar’s future hinges on The Dream Act, controversial legislation that the U.S. Congress has been debating for 10 years.
The Dream Act would allow undocumented youth, who arrived in the United States before they were 16, to apply for citizenship. They must be enrolled in college or the military, have proof of five consecutive years of residency, and be of “good moral character.”
Cesar is one of over a million undocumented youth who live in the United States. Many have lived here longer than in their home countries. They’ve been integrated into American culture and wish to become citizens.
A movement in the immigrant communities is underway. As a form of protest, Cesar and may other undocumented youth have publicly revealed their status. They hope to shape future legislation that may give them a path to citizenship.
While revealing his status could jeopardize his family, Cesar feels like he has no other choice. Without a path to legal citizenship, Cesar’s life after college remains uncertain. As he says, “I’ll have a degree, but I won’t be able to use it.”
what does coming out mean?
coming out means to publicly reveal or acknowledge something about yourself that nobody knows.
something that will make veryone look at your differently
coming out is also acceptance.
accepting who you are and where you stand.
coming out is to publicly state something about yourself, that up until now, has stayed hidden.
to expose a secret. an unspeakable truth.
but who is coming out? and why?
Undocumented youth all over the country have decided that enough is enough…
we’re tired of being in the shadows of our voices being silenced.
we’re tired of uncertain futures because the present is unbearable.
we’re tired of putting our dreams and goals on hold.
we’re tired of having to be ashamned or embarrassed.
we’re tired of coming up with excuses for questions like: why don’t you drive? why don’t you have a license? where are you going to this summer? why are you not in school this semester?
We’re coming out because it’s time that our voices are heard
it’s time that we are acknowledged.
It’s time to come out because we’re tired of inequality.
we’re coming out to raise awareness.. immigration affects everyone.
We’re more than numbers and statistics.
we’re coming out to let the world know that we are undocumented and unafraid.
that our dream is the American dream
we are coming out and represent thousands of students who are too scared to come up here today
we’re coming out and letting you know that it’s okay!
so what if you are undocumented and dont have those 9 digits.. it does not define you it only limits you
so what if I don’t have those 9 digits.. called social security
being undocumented isn’t something to be scared of.
we’re coming out because it’s time to let people know that we need change .. and change starts with us
we have a dream and by coming out we are telling the world that we are not a number
we’re taking our rights back
and there’s power in coming out!
so i stand here today and tell you that i am a dreamer..
i am a dreamer of a better world where i can go to school and fulfill my educational goals
i dream of a world where i am free to travel, to drive, a world where i am an equal
i dream of a world without boundaries, a world where i can pursue my happiness
i dream of a better world without shame and fear where i am free to go wherever i want
i dream of a better world a better America
because the present is broken and it needs to be fixed today
undocumented is just a label but it doesn’t define me
i know what it feels like to not go to school
to feel like you can’t even afford it
i know what it feels like to be stuck in two cultures and none of them is yours
so for all those reasons i stand here to tell
and tell everybody that my name is ANGY and i am undocumented.
if you want to share your story with us email angy@nysylc.org
